By having a good network of accountants and other people working within the financial sector you are likely to find getting a new job much easier. Though the recommendation of good networking is simple often the actual practice can be much harder. We’ve identified eight tips which will help you network like a pro.

Identify good contacts – it might sound a little cynical but just some people are better friends than others. When networking it’s important to find people you get on with, the better your friendship the more likely they are to recommend you, so there’s no point wasting your time with people who aggravate you. Some people make the mistake when networking to try to approach the most ‘important’ people, this can end up being counter productive, you are better off speaking to people who are likely to have the time and attitude to engage with you on a meaningful level. It’s better to have come away from an industry event with one friend from a small firm with a less illustrious job title than a loads of brief conversations with the big cheeses.

Ask Questions – it’s important to engage people in conversation and then respond to what they are saying. Don’t just use a question as an opening gambit then go off about how great you are. Listen to what other people are saying and ask them questions you are interested to know the answer. The person you are speaking to will appreciate the attention and are far more likely to remember you in a good way than the accountant who only talked about themselves.

Do Your Homework – if you know certain people will be at an event it might be worth doing a little homework on them. Knowing who they work for, certain clients they have or even which football team they support can give you the perfect ice breaker.

Be Honest – there’s nothing worse than a suck up. Too often when people are networking they think they primary goal should be to agree with everything the person they are talking to says and generally being sycophantic. If you are honest it’s much more likely the person will take you seriously as a professional.

Help People – once you’ve got a bulging contacts book it’s important to remember to help people. Friendship relies on the relationship being mutually beneficial, especially in business. So help people in your network out, if you have a client and your too busy point them in a friend’s way. If you see a job that would suit them, let them know. There has never been a truer adage than you scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.

Return Favours – nobody likes a one sided friendship, if people within your network of friends do you a favour make sure you return it. It doesn’t take long for a new contact to realise your aren’t going to be helpful to them if you don’t go out of your way to help them.

Stay in Touch – networking isn’t just a case of getting someone’s business card and waiting until you need there help to give them a call. If you meet anyone interesting, be sure to follow it up with a phone call or email. The fresher you are in someone’s mind the more likely they might think of you when an accountant job opportunity arises.

Be Social – It’s important to remember when you are networking you are ultimately trying to find some new friends. Don’t get too bogged down in the dos and don’ts of networking. Just think of it as a normal party where the benefit of being social might be a new accounting job.