After spending much of my early career in client-facing roles, I was a bit hesitant when my career shifted to internal facing or “back office” roles. I knew that, for some, the prospect of managing the logistics, operations and administrative functions of an organization would be an absolute nightmare. But over time, I found myself genuinely enjoying the opportunity to work across different areas of an organization like finance, human resources and project management. And, while not everyone will feel the same sense of satisfaction I do when payroll is completed with no errors or a recruitment process ends with a great new hire, there are invariably downsides to working behind the scenes in an organization.
Understand how to best network within your sector
For starters, it’s important to understand the sector that you’re working in and what networking opportunities are available to you. During her years spent building networks within both the public and private sectors, Katerina Kamicaitis, currently managing transformational HR programs at Metrolinx, can attest that the approaches in each context look a bit different. “In the public sector, there is a lot of focus on retaining talent, and networking opportunities are often offered and encouraged. For example, when I worked for different municipalities, I was able to regularly attend events where I could meet my counterparts from other areas across the province, as well as individuals in different positions to potentially grow my prospects for new career opportunities. In the private sector, it helps to do some research and be a bit more proactive in putting yourself out there to meet others outside of your organization.”
Engage with professional associations and trustworthy communities of practice
Many internal roles, including finance, human resources and project management, require professional designations. Once you’ve achieved the designation, you’ll typically become part of a professional association, whether it be the National Payroll Institute, CPA Canada or the Human Resources Professionals Association. If you stay connected, you’ll likely be able to access professional development, communities of practice or even social gatherings to meet others with the same experience and interests. It might require stepping outside of your comfort zone (yes, I also tend to opt for webinars to earn my professional development credits), but even exploring one or two in-person opportunities a year could make a big difference in building your network.
You may also consider exploring existing professional groups on LinkedIn, but always be critical and do your research before you join. Kamicaitis offers these tips: “Before joining any informal community of practice for a specific role, consider whether it will actually provide value to you. If you notice red flags such as a small group membership or limited quality information being shared, you’d be better suited to rely on a professional association with a proven track record.”
Try to stay connected beyond your first meeting
After you’ve met someone new, it’s easy to lose touch, especially when you’re working in a role that keeps you in the office most of the time and limits your chances of running into each other again. But when you do find yourself making a new connection, there are some ways you can try to keep the conversation going. Consider setting a goal for yourself to have a monthly coffee with someone interesting from your network. If you find yourself putting it off or struggling to find the time, try a virtual coffee meeting instead. For the sake of finding a half hour each month, it keeps you engaged with key members of your network and helps solidify some of these relationships.
You may also find ways to meet up through common interests. Kamicaitis recalls some of her colleagues maintaining relationships through their shared love of online gaming. “Through chatting, they realized that they all really enjoyed video games and made a point to find time to play together online when they had a chance. Then, every few months, they would get together in person and make a night of it.” As you engage more frequently with your contacts and put in the effort, you might be surprised to find some genuine friendships along the way.
Whether you’ve been working in your role for many years or are looking for a new opportunity, there are many advantages to exploring new contacts outside of your organization. While internal facing roles are often considered the backbone of an organization, they tend to keep your interactions limited to those within the four walls of your office. When you prioritize meeting and learning from others outside your organization, you may find yourself open to new ways of working or exploring new career opportunities that you otherwise would never have known existed.
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