Think about your network. Who is in it? Current and former colleagues, family, recruiters, volunteer organizations, gym friends, the person next to you in yoga, friends from college, your hairstylist, the person next to you on the soccer field sidelines, your tennis buddies. You get the idea. It’s everyone!
When thinking about your network (your circle of friends & acquaintances) – decide what you will use your network for. If it’s a recommendation on a hair salon, restaurant, daycare, etc., it might be fantastic as is. But, if it’s for your next career move, you need to think strategically – while you are still in your current job.
Like anything, you need to decide where you want to go, before you can get there. So, where do you want to go? Perhaps you want to move up in your job– so, once you hit the top (or as high as you can go at your org)…where will you go next? This involves a little research.
Consider the following:
1. Take a look at industries and companies you may be interested in working for – and build a list. Glassdoor is a great tool for this (though a little light in the sport/outdoor area). It offers information on salaries within organizations, reviews on the companies, questions the company asks during interviews, and assessments on how hard the interviews are! You can search by city/state, too. A quick search on the Portland, OR area, yields 627 results (Are there really 627 companies in PDX? Nutty!)
2. Diversify. Look inside and outside your current industry. Your next career move may not be within your current industry (if you want to stay in the same location, keep the kids in school, support your partner’s job, etc.). So, consider looking at industries that are complimentary to your current one – and add companies to your list.
3. Think geographically. Perhaps your goal is to move to Southern CA at some point (beach, sea, sun…ahhhh). Start expanding your network in the area to which you would like to move - now.
Start with LinkedIn – and link to all your friends, colleagues, associates, etc. Then, start reaching out to people to build your network for your next opportunity. Ask for introductions – and start meeting people now! Interact on the message boards, go to face-to-face events (a great way to strengthen an online relationship)…offer to help others – and they’ll be ready to help you when you need it in the future.
Ask yourself: Will my network perform the way I want it to – when I need it? If not, start strategizing!
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