Nurture Your Network

When do most people think of networking with recruiters and key thought leaders? Usually not when they are in a state of complete career-contentedness ... nor when they are overwhelmed with the taxing responsibilities of a frenzied position. Instead, these networking contacts tend to occur in more of a reactive mode (state of panic at unexpected unemployment or even as an afterthought following an anticipated separation from a previous employer).

Just as effective account managers know that they must constantly feed the pipeline with possible leads, cold calls, and new business ... and busy entrepreneurs know that they must continually cultivate prospective business, maintain marketing efforts, and advertise (even when they are too busy!), successful career managers recognize the value of maintaining their network as an ongoing activity.

Reach out to your network when you are not in an active job search mode. Contact those best-in-class recruiters that have been instrumental in your career advancement and ask how you can help them, what leads you can provide, and which contacts you can relay that would prove useful. Same with the key professional network of people you'd call on the minute you knew your position was at risk. If you haven't grabbed coffee, met for lunch, or caught up over a game of golf in more than ... six months or so, now's the time to reestablish the connection (when you don't need it). By carefully nurturing and valuing your network of key contacts, you'll be in a more optimal position to receive critical assistance when you do need it. And, you'll be likely to be considered first with outstanding opportunities when you least expect them!