As a trainer my job depends %100 on networking and with these tough times I’ve had no issues because I don’t focus on a single market, I focus on the people in my network (all markets).

Great stuff!

A very well written post. I whole heartedly agree. There is nothing more powerful for advancing your career than a strong business network.

I would add that a very important part of that network should be your colleagues. As people leave the current company and spread around the industry you will have a very strong professional network that can be extremely useful, but only if you keep in touch with folks after they leave your orgnaization.

@Cindy @Chris @Sara at On Simplicity-Thanks for the kind words.

@Causalien-Attitude is everything. App engineers often get little love or respect by their salesmen or managers. This is wrong and a smart salesman makes them feel like they are royalty. That being said it is our own responsibility to find the best in our situation. You have hundreds of industry contacts at your fingertips.

@Jeff-Harvey Mackay is one of my heroes / mentors. His books are a master course in networking and what got me started. Dale Carnegie and John C. Maxwell are also great resources. Both tell you to focus on the other person.

@Telly-I’m not sure CSI is even is business anymore. As I said it’s been a decade!

I am gussing you are in the rust belt. A friend went through the same thing (vibration tech) a few years ago. He had to move from Detroit because there just wasn’t any work.

The safety you feel is an illusion. Eventually your number will be up. That doesn’t mean you need to bail out. By all means stick it out if you enjoy your job. Just plan ahead so you land on your feet. Strengthen your network. You don’t need to go to industry events, start with the people you deal with on a daily basis.

Also, make sure your personal finances are in order. There is a big difference being debt free and up to you neck in debt. When the layoff hits you don’t need the additional stress. Also, being debt free with 90 days (I prefer 6 months) of living expenses saved up.

What many people forget is that they have a network all around them. They just get caught up in the day to day and never connect.

To stretch yourself start getting to know your venders at work. They have a vested interest in this and will help carry the relationship. Do you have an industry group? If so get involved. It is so much easier to do this than to throw yourself into a networking event!

Being shy is something you have to work to overcome. It will take some effort on your part to engage with others. Slowly but surely it will work. I went through this myself so I know the pain you go through. Persevere and you’ll grow personally and professionally.

In my case I built a strong network in about six months. I really went at it for 90 days because I saw the end was near.

I’ve never heard of CSI 2010 (but cool name). We use B&K & Head Acoustics mostly (I’m more on the acoustics side of things). I think you’re right when you say, “when people start getting laid off it is often just the beginning”, however, my company is consistently laying off small pockets here and there. Someone I’ve managed to avoid it for 8+ years. The issue is, being in an area of the country where job losses are happening every day, I actually feel safer where I am with 8 years seniority than being the new kid on the block (and likely the 1st on the chopping block) somewhere else! At least a lay off with my current company would give me a pretty nice severance package.

The unfortunate thing about economic slowdowns is that many companies aren’t spending the cash to allow empployees to attend conferences & courses so you have to be more active about networking on your own.

I love Brandt’s approach. If you network with people you trust and respect, then helping them out is probably pretty fun as well as a long-term “deposit.”

For many years I felt I only needed to rely upon my strong work ethic and ability to do great work in order to advance my career. As I’ve matured, I’ve come to the conclusion that who you know is just as important as what you know.

If your readers liked this post, they may enjoy reading Harvey Mackay’s book on networking titled “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty.” It’s a great Networking 101 study guide.

Many of the points raised in this post are keys to the success Harvey has had networking during his career. Harvey also covers effective ways to organize and maintain a network as well as techniques for keeping it energized. I found my copy in a Good Will store for $3. It’s been one of my best investments.

Building a network is much more than just collecting names and numbers. As the article mentions, it is all about building relationships. In fact I’ve heard it stated that business is all about the relationships you build. Two books that I’ve read recently offer great advice for building relationships and working with people and may be worth your reader’s time: Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and John C. Maxwell’s “Winning with People.”

Thanks for sharing this article
-Jeff
I’m Minding My Own Business, are you minding yours?

I am a long time reader of your blog and I have been inspired by this post. So much so that I decided to come out from the shadow and say it.

I am also an Applications Engineer, however the attitude I have towards my work is not the same as you. I just realized how small minded I am in terms of the potentials waiting to be build in the hundreds of contacts I have. Thank you for changing my view.

#4 is one of the key ones (I think) and if you do that combined with results you’ll really land some great connections.

@ConnieB and @guardian angel-Asking for a favor before you’ve had a chance to contribute is selfish. People see right through you.

@telly-noise and vibration engineer…what equipment do you use? I grew up on CSI 2010 but I’m sure technology has moved on.

You are right about small tight networks. Your network is far better than any job board. I have also kept several recruiters in my network, and even if I am not interested I try to help them find candidates. You may want to check out 11 Steps to the Job of Your Dreams. In my experience when people start getting laid off it is often just the beginning.

@Kelsey-It’s good to hear you’ve started networking. Keep in touch with your college buddies and keep up the good work. And welcome to the real world!

This morning two of my co-workers were laid off. Oddly enough, just last week I was contacted by two different recruiters whose phone calls I’ve yet to return (is there something they know that I don’t know???). So your post reminded me to return their phone calls, even if things seem safe.

Sometimes working in a smaller niche market (I’m a Noise & Vibration Engineer) can be difficult, but I’ve found the network to be very tight so even though my resume isn’t out and about, I get phone calls from people I’ve met in the industry at conferences and such (another great place to look for contacts).

I must admit, I had previous jobs through my network.

>>Key #1: Build it before you need it
This is truly an essential concept. I have to roll my eyes at people who don’t participate or give anything to a network, yet they feel like it’s ok to just hop on in and ask for something..

Liked the article.

By the way, good luck after graduation!

i am working my network presently to get a job lined up for whenever i graduate

And – the easiest way to building a network, is to develop a blog.

I disagree with this. With a blog you don’t get to meet people face to face. You don’t get to see their whole self, how they interact with other people and how other people respond to their work and personality. You get a one sided view of the person, not the whole story.

I have a pretty solid network compared to my classmates who graduated with me in April. My last two jobs were both found through my network, and I’ve found several friends and associates jobs.

Recommending jobs to people and recommending people to employers is an integral part of building my network. If I can’t give a solid recommendation of someone then I won’t do it. I haven’t yet found a blog which lets me know someone well enough to make a solid recommendation.

What I do use blogs (and LinkedIn, and Facebook) for is for keeping up with people who are already in my network. For this type of thing I think they’re invaluable.

@Maria-Getting your kids into networking is a great point. I did it by accident. They are learning it as they watch me do it and preach building deep relationships with your customers, suppliers, etc. Thanks for your complements and I hope you enjoy your visit to my blog!

@Frugal Dad-It can be hard to keep in touch when you don’t spend your day in the office. It’s something I struggle with over the last few years. My advantage is that my day job puts me in front of customers almost every day.

As for bailing before the chopping block I had a couple barriers. The biggest was keeping it quite. I also hadn’t built the network I have today. Now finding a new job is easy.

@Alison Wiley-I’m glad your experience went well. I’ve had the opposite problem where I didn’t have a network. It was a awful experience finding work, especially since the tech bubble had just crashed and the job market dried up.

@Adam Singer-I agree about building the network. It amazes me how close knit a group can become. JD’s blog is exceptional in this aspect (as well as others).

@Cubicle Warrior-I’m more of a one-on-one in person type of guy. I do well at conferences and networking events but it’s a struggle. And much of my network is “employment alumni” related. Most industries are small and everyone gets to know each other. As we shift I stay in touch…even when they become the competition!