Why Networks REALLY Matter and most people don't realize it until they're 40 without one......

Most people reading this article graduated from college or university at some point and attended a career fair or networking cocktail event where they got introduced to the magical power of “meeting people” to help your career. We were told you never know when a seemingly awkward or brief exchange of business cards while drinking free Corona Lights in August could lead to our dream job at some point......

We then made the rounds, talked to some creepy unemployed people in the corner, printed out 30-40 resumes and left these underwhelming events empty handed and feeling stupid that we had wasted the time. We all also probably got our first job in our 20’s not from that Career Fair or under-attended happy hour, threw away most business cards we accumulated that night, and never thought about them again....

Nobody told us at this time, but it’s this first introduction into “networking” that jades us and sets the vast majority of the Workforce in this country on a path that will usually lead to changing jobs every 24 to 36 months, constant feelings of inadequacy and the euphoric thoughts of how lonely it is to constantly have to re-prove yourself over and over again to strangers in corporate America.

The good news is whether your 22 or 62 reading this article, IT’S NOT TOO LATE. Below you will find the Top 3 DO’s and DO NOT’s when thinking about building your brand and truly career networking in corporate America.

Disclaimer: The author of this article may or may not have made every mistake below in the last decade:)

 DO NOT talk shit…..EVER- One of the biggest mistakes most people make in their 1st or 2nd big job change is to absolutely slam their employer on the way out the door or shortly after departure. I mean hey, you left for a reason right? More money….hated your boss……didn’t see a path to career development…..you should be entitled to air your grievances and let people know the REAL truth about the company you just left right? WRONG. Not only does it make you look incredibly insecure and bitter, but it inevitably always makes its way back to your ex co-workers. These people likely do not share your opinions as they are still at said company and you trashing them will only make them second guess the value you truly did bring and your overall temperament. One day with Linkedin and all the mutual connections we all have in the social media age, you getting hired for your dream job may HINGE on one of these random people working at your ex-employer speaking highly of you on a back channel reference. Don’t ever let behavior during an emotional job change come back to bite you down the road….

 DO NOT assume your resume “speaks for itself”- We have all interviewed that person who does zero homework beforehand. They know very little about what your company does and what the mission, culture and vision is….and what’s worse they don’t want to know. They think that because they had a couple 5-6 year runs at highly successful companies that their work selling themselves and standing out in the world is done. Don’t walk away from these type of people……RUN

DO take personal 1 on 1 time with executives, peers and thought leaders at your company VERY seriously- Imagine I polled the 50 people whom you interact with most at your current company and asked them if they became CEO of a new company tomorrow, on a scale from 1 to 10 how likely would they be to hire you? Most of us become resigned to our own fate in whatever company we work for. We make up stories in our mind and those stories become our reality. â€œThis company is too big for me to affect change in.” â€œNobody cares what I have to say here.”  "I Think I could really impact our business, but our CRO or CEO intimidates me.” These are self fulfilling prophecies of mediocrity. Even if your assumptions end up being accurate, you will feel 100 times better for trying and you will stand out across the field for taking your swing sharing your ideas.

DO find an executive or career coach outside your immediate network- There is nothing more rewarding than finding a highly successful individual who knows NOTHING about your professional life to mentor you. They have zero filter or bias and can often times help lead you down amazing paths you couldn’t have even dreamed of finding in your own network.  I got lucky as my wife coached the kids in hockey of a guy who is now the CEO of a 3 Billion Dollar tech company 45 minutes from our house. Whomever it is find him or her. This might be the only investment in life better than a therapist:)

 DO NOT ever make a decision based on money- You hear this one a lot but it is by far the most overlooked mistake people make.  I can PROMISE you the extra 5, 10, even $20,000 in base salary may seem like the best thing since sliced bread at the time, but if you do not love yourself and get to the root of why you weren’t getting that money at your last place of employment, in 18-24 months you will be in the same position(unhappy and chasing a base salary). A raise is like getting the frion charged in your car......it may solve your AC problem for a couple months, but if the unit is bad next Summer your car will once again be blowing hot air(spoken from experience)

DO take EVERY call and return every email or message from somebody already “IN” your network- Always throw the rope back over as an old boss of mine used to say and do for others as they have done for you. I know at 530pmEST on a Thursday night in September the last thing you want to do is answer a Linkedin message from somebody you worked with 8 years ago inquiring about some random opening at your company…..but DO IT. You never know when that person can help you in the future. I got my current job from a guy I sold software too in 2012 that unbeknowist to me, I made an impression on. When you always hear people say in the world “Do more for others than you do for yourself,” this is a good example of that phrase in action and an easy win.