BOOMERS @ WORK
Power
Networking
101
W
ho you know is vital to
maintaining and
cultivating a career at
any stage of your work journey.
Networking becomes critical
during the Baby Boomer years
during the time when many
people would rather not bother
attending events and meeting new
people. With a full-time job,
family responsibilities and carving
out time for you; anything more
than accepting a LinkedIn
connection feels like an intrusion.
Experienced workers are more
likely to need a personal
connection to make an upward
move or to quickly move into a
new role. Power networking is not
about attending every networking
group or being present on all
social media. Effective networking
is having well-regarded contacts
who can and will make an
introduction, recommend your
work, write a letter or an e-mail
on your behalf. It really is about
the person being willing to take
action on your behalf.
These 5 critical success factors for
power networking could help you
shorten your job search and keep
you on the short list for
opportunities:
1. Approach networking as an
activity with mutual benefits.
As in any relationship you have
to give as much (or more) than
you take. Your networking will
backfire if you only contact
people when you need
something.
2. Develop an authentic
connection. Try to engage with
your connections at least
annually and closer contact will
require more frequent contact to
maintain a bond.
3. Privatize your personal and
separate your career networking.
4. Network with people you truly
enjoy being around that share
your values. It makes connecting
with people more likely. Don't
feel as is if you must confirm
everyone who reaches out for a
connection. The “Ignore” button
is there for a reason, use it.
5. Diversify your contacts.
Network with others in your
profession at other companies
and within professional
organizations as well as others
outside your line of work that
you meet socially and through
volunteering or hobbies.
We all know that charismatic
person that knows everyone and
networks easily. It doesn't come
easily to everyone and sometimes
you have to make an effort to
attend events and update
professional social media
platforms. In the long-term it is
worth the effort. If you wait until
you need to make a job change or
want to move up in your
organization, the relationships are
already in place.
Brenda Johnson blogs about aging in the
workforce at Work, Careers and Jobs
@ 40+, www.workinglater.blogspot.com.
You can follow her on Twitter:
@workingover40.
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