Networking Isn't a Dirty Word

Did you stop networking once you landed that new job? Most of the clients I’ve worked with over the years answer ‘Yes’ to that question. Even though Networking is the most important aspect of the job search, it’s the first thing people stop doing once they successfully land a new job. Big mistake! You see, keeping your network active and growing is critical to your career. Yes, it’s important to the job search, but it’s also a powerful tool in your career advancement. Whether you are seeking a new job in another company or wanting to advance in your current employer, networking is the most direct path to get you there.
While qualifications, alone, should ‘get’ you a new job or a promotion, we all know that familiarity is a more powerful tool for that goal. People like to work with people they know and like. Few of us like to ask for help, and even fewer like to have someone we’ve not spoken to in a long time suddenly reach out for help. So, it’s important to keep relationships fresh. And I get it, you’re busy. You have a job that takes up most of your week and, if you’re lucky, you have a family or personal obligations. You don’t want to use the precious little time you have to ‘network’. Well, I like to use a more holistic approach to networking, and 30 years of building and maintaining relationships has given me this insight. I have moved from one coast to the other 4 times since 1983, and yet I have strong relationships with people everywhere I’ve lived and worked. On any given day, I might chat with a former colleague in England, New York, Washington, DC or Seattle. My friendships and connections are everything to me. The people that have entered my life are wonderful and supportive and inspiring. Why would I want to let those relationships go cold? Now you might be thinking, “Andrea must spend all day online and on the phone”. Well, I don’t. Here’s what I do and how I’ve maintained strong connections, and yes friendships, across the miles and years.

1. Take 5 minutes every day to just hop online or send a text to someone. Just say hi or a quick update on life. Engage! That’s it. Technology makes this so easy. Both LinkedIn and Facebook remind you when someone is having a birthday. Send them a quick note. The same thing with promotions or new jobs on LinkedIn. People love to be acknowledged. You don’t have to have an ‘ask’. Just say hi and stay connected. And while this post is about helping you in your career, you’ll also benefit from the personal connections to people. It simply feels good to stay connected with the people in your life! 5 minutes every day is 35 minutes a week. That’s a little more than 2 hours a month that you have invested in keeping your connections alive.
2. When it comes time for you to make an ‘ask’ of people, when you’re looking for that next job or advancement, engaging with these people will be so much easier. I’ve worked with people in the past who’ve let their network go cold. When it came time to seek new employment, they were embarrassed and hesitant to reach out to people. Don’t let this happen. Stay connected and when it comes time, you’ll feel more comfortable reaching out to people because it won’t be out of the blue. These will be people you’ve been engaging with on a fairly regular basis.
3. Who do you reach out to? Often, people I work with think only of their business connections when networking. Expand that thinking. Everyone you know knows people who work and can potentially help you in your quest. Friends, family, neighbors, people you worship with or work out with. Literally anyone you know can play a role in your search. The next time you’re out skiing or hiking or at the gym, take a look around. Engage with people. Not only might they help your career, but you may make a new friend and enhance your life.
4. How do you make the ask? Let’s admit it, few of us like to send an email asking someone to ‘help me get a job’, and even fewer of us like receiving that email. What job? What skills do you have? What are you looking for and what have you done? These are all questions one might ask. So, spend a little bit of time meeting with a person. Ask them for advice. How did they get to where they are? What do they like about their company? Tell them what skills you are looking to use and what companies you’re interested in. Be specific about what you’re looking for. All of this will help them see you and your value, and potentially help you identify where you should direct your job search.

 
All of this helps make ‘networking’ something other than a dirty word. It just becomes a way of life. When it’s time for an ‘ask’, it will be so much easier because you’ll have been engaged with people. It’s less ‘networking’ and more just staying in touch. And don’t forget that you can help others too. Don’t make this a one-way street.
What questions do you have about networking? Drop them in the comments. I’ll share my thoughts.