There are several types of networking, and knowing them helps you spend your time where it counts. Most people only do one kind, usually with the colleagues they see every day. Yet the biggest opportunities often come from the other kinds. This guide explains the three main types, the most common formats and which ones to focus on at each stage of your career.
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What are the types of networking?
The best-known model comes from Herminia Ibarra and Mark Lee Hunter. In their Harvard Business Review article, they describe three types: operational, personal and strategic. On top of that, you can network in different formats, such as online, at events or through referral groups.
The 3 main types of networking
1. Operational: getting today’s work done
This is the network you need for your current job. It includes your manager and teammates, as well as other teams, suppliers and key clients. Because you need these people anyway, most of us already do this type well. For example, a project manager might build good relationships with the finance team so budgets move faster.
2. Personal: growing beyond your role
Personal networking reaches outside your company. It includes alumni, trade groups, clubs, online communities and mentors. These contacts give you advice, fresh ideas and referrals, so they help you grow beyond your current role. For instance, a developer might join a Discord community for their programming language and attend a monthly meetup.
3. Strategic: planning your next move
In contrast, strategic networking looks ahead. In other words, you build ties that help you see where your field is going. They also help you win support for bigger moves, such as a new business line, a new career or a startup. For example, a marketing lead might get to know product, sales and industry leaders before pitching a new market.
Most people stick to the first type. However, the second and third usually bring the best chances, because they link you to people you would never meet at work.
Strong ties and weak ties
Also, you can sort a network by how close people are. Strong ties are close friends and colleagues, so you talk to them often. Weak ties, on the other hand, are people you know a little, such as a former classmate or someone you met at a conference.
Back in 1973, the sociologist Mark Granovetter argued that weak ties bring new ideas, because they move in other circles. In 2022, a large study in Science tested this with experiments on 20 million LinkedIn users. It found that moderately weak ties helped people change jobs the most. So it pays to keep in touch with people you only know a little.
In practice, your next job, client or co-founder may come from someone you met once at an event. So when you meet someone interesting, connect and send a short note. Then check in now and then, even when you don’t need anything.
Networking formats beyond the 3 types
Beyond the three types, networking also happens in different formats:
- In-person events, such as conferences, meetups and industry mixers.
- Online networking: LinkedIn, online communities and networking apps. See our guide on how to network online.
- Referral networking: groups like BNI, where members pass business to each other under a principle called Givers Gain.
- Community networking, such as alumni groups, associations, volunteering and hobby clubs.
- Mentorship: one-to-one ties with someone more senior, which Kradoz supports through mentorship and advisory matching.
- Peer networking: small groups of people at the same level who trade advice, such as founder circles.
- Social networking: staying in touch with friends and contacts on apps such as Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.
Which types of networking should you focus on?
It depends on your stage, because each one needs a different mix:
- Students and early-career professionals: focus on personal networking. Then build ties with alumni, mentors and peers in your field.
- Mid-career professionals: mix operational and personal networking. Do your current job well, but keep growing outside it.
- Senior leaders and founders: lean into strategic networking. Also, invest in people who can shape where you go next.
Whatever your stage, keep a few weak ties warm, too. After all, a quick message every few months is enough.
What about computer networking types?
If you meant computer networks, the main types are grouped by size. A PAN (personal area network) connects devices around you, such as your phone and earbuds. A LAN (local area network) covers a home or an office, while a MAN (metropolitan area network) spans a city. Finally, a WAN (wide area network) stretches across countries, and the internet is the biggest example. You may also see WLAN for wireless local networks and VPN for private connections over the internet.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 3 types of networking?
Operational, personal and strategic. In short, operational networking helps you do your current job, personal networking helps you grow, and strategic networking helps you plan your next big move.
What is the most effective type of networking?
For most people, personal networking brings the most new chances, because it reaches outside your company. Over time, strategic networking matters more as your role grows.
What are examples of networking?
For example, joining an alumni group, attending a meetup, asking a senior colleague for advice, introducing two contacts and matching with peers on an app like Kradoz are all examples.
Is social networking a type of networking?
Yes, because social networking keeps you in touch with people you already know. For the biggest apps, see our list of the most used social networking apps.
The bottom line
The three main types of networking are operational, personal and strategic. Most people already do the first, so the quickest win is to add some personal and strategic networking each month. To begin with, pick one community, one mentor and one weak tie you would like to reconnect with. For more ideas, see what professional networking is and these networking tools.
