Networking is important in these days of uncertain employment. Remember that you must be willing to help others before you can ask them to help you. Start today by following these five steps:
1. Meet people…all the time. Always be open to meeting new contacts. Create a list of people who are where you would like to be someday, and think about how you can help them. Remember, you must give before you can receive.
2. Push yourself…get out of your comfort zone. Pick up the phone and call someone. You could send them an email, but people like to hear a friendly voice or receive a handwritten invitation to meet in person. Sounds old fashioned, but it works.
3. Be honest…tell the truth. Your contacts need to know that you can be trusted. It is important to develop quality relationships, not just a long list of names and numbers.
4. Suit up…and show up. Keep the pace. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Relationships take time to build. Act, look and remain professional.
5. Study…and do your homework. Learn about your contacts: the positions they have, the companies where they work. Take a genuine interest in learning new industries and trends. This is important because it will help you learn how you can help them.
Make a goal to connect with someone each day. Grow a quality network. Once you build the foundation, you can begin to leverage your relationships to insure your career growth.