The Importance of Networking

Consider this: If you lost your job tomorrow, who would you turn to?

We get so caught up in what the media is saying about the economy that we become doom and gloom about the future. We stay focused on our current roles and forget the importance of staying connected.  Networking is vital to us as professionals regardless of the economy and regardless of whether or not you are seeking employment. 

Networking at its most basic form is a mutually beneficial relationship.  Everywhere you go and everyone you meet is an opportunity to build a bridge, create an invaluable contact and begin the art of networking.  I was in NYC on a business trip with my boss and some colleagues recently and after a long day of workshops and meetings, we decided to unwind at the W Hotel's Whiskey Bar.  We were all on the dance floor minding our own business when a man and his entourage start dancing with our group, making funny gestures and faces and such (he actually did "The Robot" really well).  It’s NY, so you can’t just assume he’s crazy… instead we all thought it was hilarious.  As the music died down a little, I started talking to this man and his wife and come to find out that he is in NY for a Microsoft X-Box conference and that he was a College Recruiter.  Well, that’s my niche!  In the middle of the dance floor we exchanged business cards, laughed and thought what a small world it was.  (Yes, I take business cards everywhere I go!) From a distance my colleagues are watching and one person says to my boss, what is she doing?  My boss says, "for Natalie, networking and recruiting are 24/7." 

Should that not be the case for all of us?

The secret to networking is not really a secret. We do it every day and we simply don’t label it networking.  It is everyday interactions and as simple as a touch.  Think about how many people you touched throughout the day; every one of those was an opportunity to network.  In the words of Penelope Trunk, Brazen Careerist, “Think of networking as a lifestyle and not an event” http://blog.penelopetrunk.com

It is no longer enough to have your resume up on job boards; you have to tap into your network and let them know what your needs are.  Each one of us has at the very least 250 networking contacts that we rarely use; it’s what we frequently refer to as the human web, aka 6 degrees of separation.

I ask you again, if you lost your job tomorrow, who would you turn to?  I might just reach out to the X-box guy again; you never know who he may know!

Some useful sites:
http://www.brazencareerist.com/
www.linkedin.com/
www.facebook.com
www.HireACane.com

Suggested networking events:
Job Fairs
Business & Trade Organizations
Professional Clubs & Organizations
Seminars & Networking Functions
Alumni Associations
Local Chamber Events

If you have any questions or just want to network, reach out to me!
Natalie de Rojas, Assistant Director for Recruiting Services
University of Miami
derojas@miami.edu