Career
Pathways
Networking for shy people
Word of mouth is the fastest and usually most authentic source of information. If you are actively seeking a job, networking may work wonders for you. But it is quiet possible that you may not be very comfortable with reaching out for other-it could be either due to your shy nature or innate reservation from strangers. But this does not mean you have to lose out on opportunities because of it. The key to success in such a situation is to turn the focus from your ineptness to your strength.
If higher officials and executives overwhelm you, start small. Talk to people from same age group, neighborhood or background. The natural ease would help you open up and learn about prevailing options. It would further boost your confidence if you are well-informed about the topic of discussion. Trust me, not a lot of people need a valid reason to talk-and if you are an eager listener and learner, it will motivate them all the more to share all that they know.
To avoid making your tongue-tied situation obvious, learn a few open-ended questions. For example, ask about how did they come across their current employment and what do like the best about it; or maybe you could ask them about their driving force and major challenges. They may seem like simple questions but they will help you immensely to learn about how well that particular job would do for you. If the person talks at length about the need to travel extensively and you suffer from the embarrassing phenomenon of home-sickness, it would be your call to heed to that piece of information to make a wise decision.
Conclusively, networking is a very important tool for assessing your choice of career and despite your introversion, you can make work your way around it to assist you.
