In brief
- Networking — building a circle of contacts that helps you quickly tackle work and life challenges.
- Origin: from the English ‘networking’ (net — network, work — to work).
- Ukrainian equivalent: there is no standard equivalent; the most popular suggestion from the ‘Slovotvir’ community is ‘merhezuvannya’.
- For job seekers: an opportunity to showcase your skills to people who can recommend you to an employer.
- Further in the article: rules, common mistakes and a checklist for a first meeting.
What does networking mean in simple terms
Networking (English networking, from net — network and work — to work) — is a social and professional activity aimed at quickly and effectively solving complex life and work challenges with the help of a circle of friends and acquaintances. This definition is provided by the Cherkasy Regional Employment Centre.
The main aim is not the number of contacts, but a specific outcome: finding clients, recruiting staff, attracting investors or securing a job offer.
Ukrainian equivalents
The word ‘networking’ does not yet appear in dictionaries: for example, the r2u dictionary returns no results for this search. Therefore, any equivalent is merely a suggestion, not a linguistic norm.
| Variant | Origin | Status |
|---|---|---|
| networking | Word formation, 20 votes | the community’s most popular suggestion |
| networking, uniting | Word Formation, 8 votes each | community suggestions |
| establishing business contacts | osvita.ua glossary | descriptive translation |
| network interaction | career blogs | descriptive translation |
In official documents and business correspondence, it is safer to use the word ‘networking’ or the descriptive translation — ‘establishing business contacts’.
Types of networking
Business and social
Encyclopaedias and specialist sources distinguish between business networking (seeking clients, employees, investors) and social networking. Professionals use networking to expand their circle of acquaintances and find out about new employment opportunities in their sector.
Direct and indirect
The osvita.ua glossary categorises networking by the method of making connections:
- Direct — participation in seminars, conferences and business forums.
- Indirect — making connections through recommendations from people who already know you.
In education
The ‘Science in Ukraine’ portal describes networking as a tool for finding mentors, teams, jobs and investors. There is currently no official definition of educational networking from the Ministry of Education and Science.
How networking helps you find a job
The Employment Centre explains the mechanics simply: the aim is to reach as many people as possible who will learn about you, your skills, abilities and personal qualities. Such contacts may sometimes inform you of a vacancy or recommend you to an employer.
Articles on networking often cite the following statistic: ‘85 per cent of vacancies are filled through personal connections’. However, there is no verified primary source for this data, so it should only be taken as a rough market estimate.
Networking is no substitute for a CV. Prepare a high-quality CV based on a template and check that your level of English meets the job requirements.
Rules for effective networking
- Complete your social media profile — so that potential partners can form a positive first impression of you.
- Observe business etiquette — use the formal ‘you’ (Vyi) unless another form has been agreed.
- State the purpose of your introduction concisely — respect the other person’s time.
- Quality is more important than quantity — look for people with whom you share a common professional interest.
- Be helpful — mutual exchange is key: try not only to take, but also to give.
- Stay in touch — remind them of yourself without being pushy, be a good listener and offer your help.
Mistakes to avoid
- One-sided expectations — when you only ask for a favour, especially straight after meeting someone.
- Snobbery — ignoring people who, at first glance, do not seem useful.
- Being overly pushy — if someone doesn’t want to engage, don’t try to force contact.
Networking and personal branding
According to the DAN.IT blog, around 92 per cent of professionals trust recommendations from others.
Taking part in industry events, publishing content and actively engaging with colleagues demonstrate your expertise and help build your personal brand. Speak at events, share your experience online and ensure that your contacts can confidently recommend you as a specialist.
Checklist for your first networking event
- Step 1. Update your social media profiles and CV.
- Step 2. Prepare business cards or digital contact details that are easy to share.
- Step 3. Summarise in one sentence who you are and what exactly you’re looking for (self-presentation).
- Step 4. Take the initiative: be the first to approach people and listen carefully to what they have to say.
- Step 5. After the event, follow up with your new contacts and suggest potential collaboration or assistance.
Job vacancies where networking is part of the role
There are 38 active vacancies on Injobe, 42.1 per cent of which are remote. For HR professionals and recruiters, building contacts is a daily task; vacancies in this field are listed in the ‘Staff Recruitment, HR’ section.
All open positions can be found in the job catalogue.
