Ask the Engineers: 'What is the best way to network as a freelance?'

Are you stuck in a career rut or planning your next move? Maybe you’re a student struggling to decide on an industry? We're putting your burning questions to our panel of seasoned engineers.

Member Ben asked "What is the best way to network as a go-it-alone consultant or freelance start-up?"

"Start local – use the business groups in your area. Use the tools available (such as LinkedIn) to build a network and keep in touch."

Mike

"Use all your contacts – family, friends and past colleagues. Find a local business network where you can present free of charge some of your knowledge and experiences."

Alastair Clarke

"Get deeply involved with professional bodies focused on your specialism, talk to people, retain their details and follow up."

Simon Glover

"Set up a decent website, Facebook profile and LinkedIn profile and then use everyone you know, knock on doors, and publish papers that demonstrate your skills. The rest is pure luck!"

Robin Stafford Allen

"Attend industry shows and institute seminars and presentations. Meet suppliers and catch up with old colleagues."

Daniel Marsh

"Have a clear business plan and actively seek out those people who can form part of a successful future rather than relying on chance at broad-based events."

Steve Richards

"Find online forums where people discuss the end products you are consulting on. Join in the discussions and mention your expertise. Take note of other knowledgeable people. Be careful of any forum rules regarding advertising."

Chris Greatrix

"Engineering knowledge will only get you so far. You will need to gain or develop a good understanding of general business management, sales, marketing and accounting.

"It is essential to have a good contact network, and think about the field where you wish to work. Speak to others about their experiences, find a good accountant and read one of the many textbooks on business start-ups."

Tim Moss

"Get an employer to pay you a salary to network and build your personal reputation while doing a full-time job – win-win! If you have a good reputation and lots of business contacts then use these. Contracting is also a good way of doing this and at the same time having an income. I have never advertised, apart from the website, and always have work."

Crawford Murray

"Whenever you are at your busiest is the time when you should be looking for your next job/ contract/ task because it takes months to turn a contact into a contract. Otherwise the previous task will be finished and it will leave you out of work."

Matthew Waterhouse

"Firstly specialise, then form a relationship with a given company or university. As a loner you will not be trusted. Commissioning project managers may not even be engineers."

Brian McMahon

"Find a niche product/ service to be the focus of the service that you provide. Be prepared financially for the long haul, maybe up to five years before there is a sensible return on your investment. Finally, be prepared to change your service offering if your initial one does not attract any custom."

Richard Bossom

"Early to bed, early to rise, really no good if you don’t advertise. Use the web for promotion, contact people and employ someone who understands how to do this effectively – not necessarily an engineer."

Alastair Miles

"As a freelance engineer the best way is to use all the ways. Utilise any existing contact base and simply let them know what you’re doing. There are many networking events but 70% are useless and full of people trying to sell you stuff and services. About 20% are occasionally useful. IMechE events are very productive indeed. Get to know local engineers."

Michael Reid

"You really need the network before you go it alone – that is, people and companies who know you and what you can achieve."

Edwin Smith

"Simple. Support and attend your local IMechE branch and centres’ events and get actively involved in their committees. I speak from personal experience, having reached ‘recognisable face’ status within many professional, government, education and media arenas in South Wales. Good luck, Ben!"

Ian Weslake-Hill

"I would start at local IMechE evening events and other similar occasions. For all networking events, arrive early, rather than coming into a room full of people already engaged in conversation."

Joachim Neff