Regardless of your circumstances, your career success and job security ultimately depend on your personal and professional relationships. If you are unemployed, your strategy must be centered on networking. If you are in a job (happy or otherwise), your circle of friends and colleagues is your most valuable resource.

While the importance of networking is often discussed, it is consistently neglected. I get calls from job hunters bemoaning their fate. They complain that they have sent over 500 resumes and have been looking for work for months or even years. I will bravely ask them if they are focusing on networking, knowing the answer will be “no”.

There are some good reasons why people don’t network. Here are a few:

• It’s tempting to shop for employment without a clear focus, leading to a scatter campaign that produces little or no results. Without a strategic focus, you don’t know where to network or what to say when you meet people.

• It takes self-confidence and effort to meet people. It also requires preparation, presenting yourself as both informed and qualified. It’s a lot easier to put together a generic resume and apply for jobs online, hiding from the pressure of face-to-face communication.



• You might have reached out to the people you know early in your job search, again without a clear focus, asking for leads. Your network could not help you because you did not give them a clear target. Now you feel shaky about calling them again.

Ok, now that I have depressed you, let me offer some guidance and motivation to start networking. People can open doors for you, they can fall in love with you, even if you don’t have all the qualifications. People hire people they like. Thus, you must build networking into every week and month of your life.

In the process of connecting with others, you learn about opportunities. You uncover pathways revealed through conversations, introductions, curiosity, and interpersonal dynamics.

There are some easy ways to start networking. Take a class, online or in person. Attend events, conferences, and become involved with your local chamber of commerce. If that sounds too stuffy, take up a new sport and join a club. If you are not a “joiner”, then throw your own party. Start a networking group yourself!

I know I’m asking you to be strong and brave, and that is challenging. The alternative is worse. Letting your dreams falter because you are afraid to get out into the world is heartbreaking. Find a way to connect with people in a meaningful way. Enhance your life and your job security.