Network, network, network!

Network with your college professors.  Network with your internship boss.  Actually, network with all your past bosses who would say good things about your work.  And while you’re at it, network with coworkers who would do the same.  Then network with colleagues in a professional organization.  Oh, and be sure to network with Dave from Marketing—sometimes he brings donuts on Fridays.

The importance of business networking is drilled into our heads as Life Skills 101, before we even walk off stage with a college diploma.  And important, it is: according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70 percent of all jobs are found through networking.  Strong networking skills can provide an “in” for an advertised position, can uncover unadvertised job opportunities, or even better, can work to create a job opportunity that did not previously exist.  So if networking is such a powerful tool both in finding work and in building a successful career, why is it so many of us are <ahem> bad at it?

To dispel a common misconception, building a network isn’t just about finding work, it’s about building relationships with people who will offer valuable input throughout your career.  People in your network could have a lead on a great job, but they could also offer advice, anecdotes from their own careers, or contact information for people who can help you further.  And trust us, throughout your career, you’ll look to those ongoing benefits more than you’ll look for job leads.  So half the battle in networking is identifying which people will be best to carry with you along your career path.

Here are some must-have personalities to add to your network:

• A mentor.  Your mentor should be someone who has achieved the level of success that you would like to have.  Designate this wise counselor carefully and hang on to them through your career.  They can offer a wealth of wisdom and experience, and learning opportunities from their successes and their failures.
• An industry insider.  This expert lives and breathes your industry, and has probably been in it for a long time.  Thanks to their experience, they can offer data on past, current, and future industry trends, and can be a great resource for connecting you with other people in the biz.  This person would also be a great sounding board for your next great innovation.
• A peer partner.  Networking isn’t just about climbing, it’s about connecting, and you’ll want to make sure you have a trusted peer along for the ride.  When you select a peer partner, choose someone who is in a similar place on a similar career path as you are.  Together you can celebrate and commiserate, and share in each other’s experiences.  And since you’re on the same level, you can also share information, resources, and opportunities.

Now that you know a few types of people you’ll want in your network, it’s time to fill those slots with qualified candidates.  If you don’t already have names in mind for your network, create a spreadsheet of people who would be good in the aforementioned roles.  (These might be people you know, or people you follow but have yet to reach out to.)  Then work at building valuable business relationships!  Make sure your online networking profiles are fresh and active.  Then, be visible and engage in meaningful industry-related discussions.  Be ready to go the extra mile by inviting someone to discuss their career experiences over coffee or lunch.

At all phases of networking, keep your eyes on the prize: building relationships that will support your goals and strengthen your career.  And since networking is a two-way street, be sure to ask yourself what role you can play in other people’s networks, and how you can support their goals and strengthen their careers.  The strongest networking relationships are mutually beneficial ones.  And keep watch for new networking prospects, which can crop up anywhere from an industry luncheon to a Little League game.

So with all that said, one final bit of advice from the team here at YES! Your Human Resources Solution:Network, network, network!