Make connections, power your future

Connections keep the world moving. They help businesses to thrive. They open doors to new opportunities. They help you get to where you want to go.

In today’s fast-paced world, they’re more important than ever.

Developing and maintaining a diverse network is one of the most powerful things you can do for your career. Every time you connect with someone, you gain a new source of advice and inspiration – and open up new avenues of opportunity.

It’s all about who you know

At the beginning of your career, your network is an invaluable source of guidance. This means you can connect with the right people for advice – with everything from developing your skillset to handling difficult situations at work.

When it’s time to move up or move on, your connections can let you know about roles that might not even be advertised. Someone in your network could be a future colleague, your next boss – or they could introduce you to a new employer.  

As you become more experienced and established, your network becomes a group of peers you can share best practice with, keeping you ahead of trends and helping to raise your profile.

And networking doesn’t just benefit you. When you connect with like-minded professionals, it’s great for your employer too. Spending time with people from other organisations, industries and sectors gives you a fresh perspective – and new ideas and approaches to bring to your work. When you have a vast network, you can also help to generate new business leads and recruit the best talent.

So how do you make connections?

It’s never too early to start building your network. Even if you’re just starting your career, you’ll already be connected to classmates and friends. At work, your colleagues become a ready-made network – and as you meet more and more people, this network will start to grow.

It can be a great idea to commit specific time and energy to making connections. Events and conferences are fertile ground for meeting new people. And you can attend dedicated networking sessions where everyone is in the same boat and keen to start a conversation.

Once you’ve made your connections, you need to nurture them. Social networks – particularly LinkedIn – are useful tools for staying in touch with people you meet and reconnecting with old colleagues. You can also use them to reach out to people you’d like to get to know or who could help you progress.

There are many things you can do to grow your network. But there’s a great way to develop a strong network, quickly. It’s by joining a professional body like ACCA.

Connect with ACCA, connect with the world

We’re the accountancy profession’s super-connector – and can give you unrivalled opportunities to grow your network and your career.

When you join us, you become part of a global network of more than 700,000 professionals. As a student, you’ll be one of half a million people who are all working towards the same goal. We’ll connect you with world-class tuition providers, mentors and institutions so you have the best chance of success. And when you’re ready to look for your next role, we’ll connect you with top employers all over the world.

When you become a member, even more opportunities open up. You’ll have the confidence and communication skills to expand your network further. And you’ll be able to make more connections within ACCA  – from attending member events and panels through to joining the ACCA Council.