IT professionals should consider career network as one of the most important part in the career management plan. IT is such as dynamic industry with very high turnover rate. People move to new jobs not only because of layoffs but also aiming to greater opportunities. A strong career network could offer significant advantage and benefits for those who are changing jobs or moving up in the same organization.
Career network cannot be built in one day. It is a systemic project with long term plan. Building career network is a continuing process and it is part of professional advancement. Have you had a fairly large career network already? You need to continue enhancing it, expanding it, and keeping it alive. Don’t have one? Start it now and it’s not too late.
All career network is about contact. you contact people in regular bases so that they are able to help your career by giving you job leads, providing inside info, being your professional reference, helping you apply for a position, or even offering you a job. The key of career network is getting in touch and keeping in touch. While you build new contacts, you also need to keep old contacts alive.
The following tips are helpful for building your IT career network:
Invest time and energy in getting to know people and build connections. Keep in touch with your contacts regularly. E-mail makes it easy. Send out a quick note or pick up the phone and talk.
Develop good relationships at work with people in all levels. Work relationships are precious assets in your career. Don’t leave the relationships behind you even if you leave the job.
Keep in touch with your formal co-workers and managers. Drop an email and ask they are doing. When you look for new jobs, you can use them as professional references. Most employers ask for references if they consider hiring you.
If your job is IT consulting and services, you’ll meet a lot of clients and customers. Build good relationship with them. Beyond working relations, You may develop personal relationships with good people among your clients and customers.
Refresh connections with college classmates and alumni. No matter what industries they work in, they can provide inside info about their IT department and projects. They can help you apply for positions within their companies.
One great way in cultivating relationship is to volunteer in your community. Through relationships like this, you can gain access to valuable contacts which you may otherwise not have had access to. Be open to everyone you meet, you never know who may assist you in the future.
Networking through professional associations. Associations cannot help much if you just join and pay the membership fee. You should become an active participant. Organize a local chapter, take the leadership role, form a group, and make presentations.
Get to know people in seminars and conferences. A lot IT vendors, i.e., Cisco, Microsoft, etc. often offer free seminars to introduce new products and technologies. You’ll meet a lot of professionals with the same career interest there.
Pay attention to people and their needs. Grasp every opportunity to offer help. Do what ever you can to help others. This is the most powerful network approach.
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