We all know that networking is a key component of a successful job search. But, as my career mentoring clients will tell you, I believe that networking is an ongoing process. You should never stop. One of my mantras is to build your network before you need it.
This article gives much the same advice.
So who have you had lunch with lately? This week I have two lunches scheduled — both to keep up with folks I haven’t seen in a while.
Building your internal network is just as important, if not more important, than building an external one. You need to get to know the people in the company where you work — especially those in different departments. Taking the time to have coffee, or lunch, or a drink after work, will let you build relationships that will come in handy in the future.
Work gets done in teams and groups — often across departmental lines. Building relationships with people in other departments makes it easier for you to solve those little cross department conflicts when they come up — and they will.
You don’t have to get to know everybody in every department. Getting to know one or two people in every department will result in a positive response to the question, “Do you know so and so? Is he or she OK?” These questions come up all the time. When you begin working with someone you don’t know in your company, you can bet he or she will try to find out who knows you and what they think of you. That’s why internal networking is so important.
Besides all that, networking is about getting to know people. And people are fascinating. The more people you get to know, the richer life experience you will have.
Your career mentor,
Bud
PS: You can download a copy of my bestseller, Climbing the Corporate Ladder at www.BudBilanich.com/climbing/ When you do, I’ll give you a free basic membership in my career mentoring site and begin sending you daily motivational quotes.
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