If you read our blog post from last week, found here, we gave our readers five reasons that they should start their job search for 2015 immediately. One of the top five reasons we listed for people to start their search now is that people have a tendency to wait until the last week of the year or the very beginning of the New Year to quit their current positions. Among other things, they cite wanting to receive their bonus for the year as the reason for their timing. This leaves many human resources departments and hiring managers scrambling to find talent in January.
You are not alone right now if you’re reading this saying, “But I’m not looking for a job, why should I be networking?” What if the person giving their notice last week will be leaving your dream job open? How would you know that your dream job is going to be available soon, and now is your chance to apply? Yes, I know, you’ve had a conversation with your friend in HR and he/she promises to tell you when there is movement on your “dream job” front. But what if this position is not in your company? How will you ever know about it? Of course there is a possibility that it will be listed on a job board, and you could find it there. But if you’re not actively seeking a job, how often are you visiting job boards?
Investing an hour a week in networking is time well spent, even when you’re not looking for a job. Even if your “dream job” is not available right now, telling other people what you want to be when you grow up is more likely to get you to where you want to go in your career. If you’ve worked with a recruiter before, it’s not a bad idea to check in with them every year just to let them know how your position is going, and update them on what you’d like to do next.
“The road to success is always under construction. “ –Lily Tomlin.
We have a co-worker at Ambrion who is very happy here, but he keeps in touch with his former managers a few times a year. He makes a point to send them a holiday card each year, and to give them a call just to say “hello” each year. This might seem simple, and that’s because it is. –It’s also very effective. Should he call one of his former managers and ask for an endorsement or recommendation for his LinkedIn page, his managers won’t have to wrack their brains to remember who he is, and they won’t have to have a lengthy conversation with him to get up to speed on his career path.
In general, people are happy to talk to you about where you’d like to be working in your next position, and will often offer to help however they can. If you know someone who is working at a company that you could see yourself working for, but they hold a position that is not related to where you’d be working, they are still a fantastic networking opportunity for you, and can likely lend valuable insight into the intangible things like culture and departmental challenges/benefits.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antione de Saint-Exupéry
What if the person leaving his or her job in the aforementioned scenario is your boss, and you do not want to imagine coming to work if he/she isn’t in the office next to you? If you’ve shared your fantastic relationship stories about your boss with your network, they will understand your concern about his/ her departure, and will likely help you find your next opportunity. –No matter if they’re working inside or outside your company, they will know about opportunities that you can’t find unless you’re networking.
If you’re still looking for a worthwhile New Year’s resolution for 2015, consider investing an hour a week networking. For every hour you put it, it will pay dividends. Not only will you feel more prepared if something unexpectedly happens in your current position, but you’ll also be an asset to people in your life who are looking for a new opportunity. There are fewer things more rewarding than knowing you could help a friend/ loved one/ co-worker/ former colleague find the next step in their career.