• The Open University
  • The Open University Business School

Business Fundamentals: Effective Networking

Discover how improving your business networking can enhance your professional relationships and open up career opportunities.

78,280 enrolled on this course

A group of business professionals networking effectively
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • Accreditation

    AvailableMore info

Build your network and personal brand online and in the real world

Networking is a fundamental business skill, which will help you take control of your career. Understanding the benefits of business networking, and how to overcome common networking barriers is a valuable skill.

This online course introduces the principles of effective networking, which will help develop your personal brand.

You’ll learn how to analyse the value of your existing connections, and find out how to create and manage your digital presence for networking on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook.

You’ll also learn how to write an elevator pitch and get feedback on it from the course educators.

What topics will you cover?

  • Nature and benefits of networking
  • Barriers to networking and how to overcome them
  • Frameworks for self-assessment and communicating professional strengths and interests
  • Interpersonal skills including giving and receiving feedback, listening and using appropriate body language
  • Online communication in a professional context
  • Fundamentals of brand equity as applied to individuals
  • Monitoring, evaluation and planning for improving the mutual value of networking activity

Who is this accredited by?

EOCCS
EOCCS:

This course is accredited by EOCCS, the first international quality benchmark for online courses in business and management education.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Apply the principles of effective networking
  • Improve your impression-management skills in a professional context
  • Develop your analytical and prioritisation skills
  • Identify, select and use online tools to enhance your digital presence
  • Develop the potential of your personal brand

Who is the course for?

This course is intended for anyone looking to enhance and develop their professional network in order to open up opportunities and strengthen their professional relationships.

The course does not require any previous experience of studying networking.

For further information about registration, the final assessment course, your eligibility and the BA in Business Management, visit the Open University website.

IMPORTANT! If you are aiming to use your study of courses in the Business and Finance Fundamentals program to obtain academic credit, please be aware that the final planned presentation of the Open University Assessment Course.

Who will you learn with?

Lead educator on Business Fundamentals: Effective Networking. Before becoming an academic Terry's marketing career spanned fast-moving consumer goods, the arts, and the non-profit sector.

Who developed the course?

The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

The Open University Business School

A pioneer in flexible learning for over 30 years, The Open University Business School delivers transformational, high quality business and management education which is quality assured.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

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