Networking: A Life Long Adventure

While most people think about networking as a tool in job search, those who manage their careers well understand that networking is equally important throughout one's career.  Actually, those who network well throughout their career generally have a much easier time when it comes to transitioning from one job to another.

In addition to counseling individuals impacted by job loss, I also coach clients who want to increase their effectiveness and expand their influence within an organization.  I always emphasize the importance of nurturing one's network as a career management tool.  To do this, I recommend that my clients schedule a breakfast or lunch with a different colleague at least once a month.   In order to make sure this becomes more than just a good intention, I advise clients to put a note in their calendar on the first day of each month as a reminder to schedule their monthly network meeting.  Without putting a process in place like a monthly reminder, networking will fall under the weight of all the other 'to dos' on one's list.

The other thing to remember about networking is that it is an adventure which can lead you in directions you never dreamed of!

In job search you know your first line contacts, often through having worked together, so they think of you within that context which often creates blinders.  Everyone they recommend to you is a new person in your network and generally have suggestions and ideas that many of your close contacts may not think of because of the assumptions that familiarity often brings with it.  Those you are meeting for the first time are often more expansive and creative in thinking about the areas you might explore.  This helps breathe new life into your search and your career and can lead you to paths you might never have thought of.

Remember that networking doesn't stop once you land your next job.  It is a life long adventure that can take your career to exciting new places and ease the way through any future job transition, whether it is one resulting from a down sizing or one of your own choosing.