Networking is the #1 most effective way to land your next executive position. Hands down. It is a fact. Particularly for candidates on the senior level. Those on the executive level should not be concerned about starting a network; one would hope you know people after living life for a certain period of time.
Your network is likely already bigger than you think it is. And managing it should not be as difficult as you might fear it to be. Right now there’s a general contractor doing work on my house. In the normal course of discussing this with my social circle, book club, and professional circle, I have sent at least six people to this contractor. He’s really benefiting from my network.
Before that, this same contractor sent me resume clients. So how about that? Do you think I actively campaigned for resume customers in front of this person? Of course not. He knows what I do and he mentioned it to others when they expressed a need. And I’ll tell you something else: I have literally networked with people by complete and total accident. In a venue where I don’t even remember ever mentionining that I write executive resumes, more than one person approached me to inquire about this service.
The point is, your network is not just colleagues, former colleagues, and the like. It’s people you just know. It’s normal to speak in casual conversation about what you do. (Elevator pitch, anyone?) Then when that person hears of an opportunity that might suit you, they tell you, and vice versa.
Think about the people in your every day life. The girl who babysits your kids? Chat up the mother and father when you pick her up and drive her home. The manager of the grocery store? His brother could hold a VP position at a company you’ve had your eye on for some time. The examples could go on and on. Don’t even get me started on church, kids’ athletic games…
Comments