Set a Networking Goal For The Year

  • Comments posted to this topic are about the item Set a Networking Goal For The Year

  • Start the year with one towards that goal by connecting with me on LinkedIn.

    I bet that single line will make you reach your goal 😉

  • Aaron, it will be interesting to see. Debated putting in there, too much of a plug for me? Yet, how to talk about networking and not ask/offer to connect?

  • This relates to one of my goals for 2012, thank you for bringing it up, Andy. I've been in my current job for a long time, and feel that I have done great things there, but it has been stagnet for 4 years. No pay raise in 4 years with no prospect for any in the coming year. More being taken out of my pay for benefits than ever before. This is truly a case of my being better off 4 years ago than I am today. And I've got very serious reservations of the health of the agency I work at, so networking is imperative. I want to see what ideas people have for increasing one's network, so I'll be following this thread with great interest.

    Rod

  • A few years ago, one of my employers REQUESTED that we all use LinkedIn and we had a contest to see who could get the most connections. I came in SECOND with over 400!! I basically went through my contacts and sent a request to EVERY IT person I knew and then some of the secondary connections. I also joined a dozen groups on LinkedIn.

    NOW, I get offers every week because of my LinkedIn profile.

    Ironically, this strategy by my company to build social networking caused me to get a very nice job offer (which I took, my current position).

    And some companies may not appreciate "hangin out your shingle"... but I always tell every new employer that I am always keeping my options open after an experience of being laid off on the second day of a job that required relocation. I almost always have 2 or 3 active conversations about opportunities. Keeps my resume fresh and forces me to continuously evaluate my career track.

    And remember, it is ALWAYS better to be interviewing while you are EMPLOYED...

    Peter Trast
    Microsoft Certified ...(insert many literal strings here)
    Microsoft Design Architect with Alexander Open Systems

  • I entirely agree with Andy's original idea - build your network before you need it. It helps enormously when you need to change. Out of the blue in September 2010 the government decided to abolish the organisation I worked for, and having a Linked In network has been extremely helpful in finding work. All the agencies use it to back up what it says on your CV. More details here:

    http://dbatasks.blogspot.com/2010/12/social-networks-for-dba.html

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