Why You Should Network

If you love your current field and want to advance in it, you should network. Many talented professionals make the mistake of thinking that doing excellent work in their jobs will carry the day in terms of career advancement -- that if they meet and exceed the boss's expectations, their fortunes are guaranteed. While of course you do need to be a star in your current position to help you get the next one up the ladder, that in and of itself might not put you over the top.

Make Good Progress By Making Good Relationships

What if the guy in the cube next to you is doing just as high quality work as what you're turning out, but he's also taken the time to attend a seminar the boss recommended and then e-mailed him about it to thank him and perhaps invite him to a future event? When it comes to promotion time, who do you think will have the edge? Networking often gets a bad name from the people who don't like to do it. In reality, networking is not merely kissing up. When you network with people at your current place of employment or in your field, you are creating important relationships with your colleagues. A lot goes into the decision about who to hire and who to promote -- not just job performance. By making sure your face and name are known by those who stand between you and your next career move, and by letting them get to know you on a more personal level, you increase your chances of advancing your career. People like to help the people they know. It's human nature.

If you're looking for a change of careers, your first step might be networking

If you don't love your current field and are interested in making a change, one of your first steps in making that change should be an investigation of your networking opportunities in your new field. Changing careers can feel like breaking down doors without a good professional network waiting in your next career for you. If you are looking to make a career change and have not taken the opportunity to get to know some of the people working in the field you are seeking to join, your resume might not make much sense to them once they receive it -- and though you may have a beautifully crafted cover letter that explains that while the bulk of your work experience is in Field A, but you are trying to make a change to work in Field B, not every cover letter gets read with close attention. If, on the other hand, you can hand your resume to someone you've formed a personal connection with, that career change might be easier than you think.

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