Business
I sent 200 DMs to companies - it was awkward but I got a job
From coffee chats to LinkedIn messages, here's how to network your way to your next job.
BBC Business•
For some, networking comes naturally but for others, the thought of approaching someone they don't know and trying to make a professional connection can fill them with dread.
Whether you're looking for your first job, trying to get ahead at work or hoping to change career, building a network can help you find opportunities and make connections.
Networking doesn't have to mean working a room at a formal event - it can happen in person over a coffee at work, through a chance conversation or online, through email and social media.
You also don't have to start by messaging someone directly, she says. Instead you could react to a post or drop a comment.