Networking is one of the most effective ways to advance your career. Building relationships with others in your industry or area of interest can lead to new opportunities, mentorships, collaborations, and new jobs. Here are five powerful networking techniques to help take your career to the next level:

Join relevant professional organizations and associations in your area of expertise. Becoming an active member of groups with similar interests is a great way to make connections with like-minded professionals. Attend industry events, join online forums, and look for leadership opportunities within the organizations.

Build genuine relationships. Networking is not just about collecting business cards. It’s about building real, mutually beneficial relationships. Show a genuine interest in the people you meet by listening to them and finding common ground. Look for ways to help others, and the favors will be returned.

Focus on quality over quantity. Having a huge number of connections means nothing if they are weak or superficial relationships. Focus on building a smaller number of strong, long-lasting connections with influential individuals who share your values and interests. These kinds of high-quality relationships lead to the most valuable networking.

Offer to help others. One of the best ways to build your network is by helping the people around you. Look for opportunities to make introductions, share advice, and help others solve problems. Your generosity will make a lasting impression and lead to reciprocal support from your connections.

Stay in touch regularly. Networking is an ongoing process. It’s not enough to make a connection once and assume the relationship will continue without your effort. Regular communication is key. Drop your connections a quick email or message to say hello, share an article of interest, or suggest meeting up. Your consistent effort will make you top of mind for new opportunities.

Powerful networking takes time and dedication, but implementing these techniques can help open up a world of possibilities for advancing your career. With a strong, mutually supportive network, you’ll find mentorship, job openings, collaborations, and lifelong connections that help you achieve your goals. Consistent, value-based networking is worth the investment.