It’s often said that professional success is down to who you know, not what you know.

There is a reason that professionals from all sectors make a big deal about forming relationships and making connections when advising those who want to get into their industry. The fact of the matter is that the working world is rarely fair, and a little networking can get you a long way when it comes to exploiting that. Keeping in touch with people counts for a lot, and can set you up with opportunities that you might miss otherwise.

That being said, forming these kinds of relationships is just as much of a skill as anything else on your resume. It requires a certain level of strategy and tact, which does not come naturally to everyone when they are doing their best to get ahead. Just like anything, networking involves a level of risk, and it can backfire massively when you get it wrong. Not everybody appreciates being the audience to somebody’s desperate attempt to sell themselves, even if it relates to their career. What’s worse is that this attempt to form a connection can come off as entitled, which is not going to go down well.