How do you prefer to network professionally?

That was the question asked of 1,400 chief financial officers in a new survey released last week by Robert Half Management Resources. While a quarter of the respondents said they still like networking at professional events, meetings, or conferences, 45 percent said they would rather network online.

“[W]hile online networking can be effective in reaching a large number of contacts, it shouldn’t replace more traditional approaches,” said Paul McDonald, a senior executive director with Robert Half, in a statement.

“Having regular conversations remains essential for developing meaningful professional relationships,” he said. “Face-to-face meetings can build rapport in a way that electronic communication cannot. Most people still want some personal familiarity before doing business with someone.”

CFOs were also asked to identify the primary purpose of their professional networking activities. Sixty percent responded that they network to grow business, compared with 10 percent who said they connect with colleagues to find a job and 7 percent who said they network primarily to recruit new talent.

No matter your job title, now it’s your turn to respond: How do you prefer to engage in professional networking? Let us know in the comments below.

(TMG archive photo)