If you haven’t noticed it, there’s a whole lot of networking going on right now. Whether it’s folks who have a job or are looking for one, I’ve seen a serious increase in calls and online invites to connect.
I really enjoy networking. This comes from learning very early in my career the importance of staying connected. True story – one of my early managers didn’t believe in networking. He had been with the company for over 25 years and figured he was going to be there until retirement day. One afternoon in December, just a few days before Christmas, a bunch of us went out to lunch and he stayed behind for a meeting with the corporate honchos.
When I returned, his office was empty and I had a note on my desk to process his termination paperwork.
The sad part…he had no network.
Many people make the mistake of waiting until they need a network to start getting one. So I commend those of you who are out there trying to build relationships. But for those just starting, the question becomes…where do you go? If you’re looking to get out, join an organization, and meet people in a face-to-face setting, experts will tell you that it’s about quality not quantity. Don’t join 27 associations…you’ll spread yourself too thin and won’t be able to really build any kind of worthwhile connection with any of them.
Well guess what? The same principle applies to web-based social networking. There are tons of social networking groups out there. Which ones are best? Well, I can’t tell you that. But I can tell you what works for me. I’m on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. I’ve found with these I can comfortably maintain my profiles and stay in touch. If you want to be a connection, friend or follower…just reach out to me. I will respond.
So, what say you guys? What social networking applications are you using and how are they working for you?
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Rachel - I Hate HR says
I have trouble staying in touch with older generations because they’re less likely to use networking. We’ve become so used to the simplicity of Facebook and LinkedIn that we cringe at having to maintain actual contact with our networks.
Niheel says
I am using blogs, i think they make it easier to connect with people, because we are have discussions about topics that are relevant. Linkedin to keep track of all my new friends.
Plus we have our community at bytes.
HR Maven says
About the same – Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
Also, being in niche – higher ed, I network with a number of colleagues there as well.
Steve Boese says
I would agree with HR Maven, it does seem that I am using Twitter quite a bit more lately, and maintaing my blog and reading and commenting on other blogs is also a great way to make connections and build your network. But even beyond networking, these sites can be an extremely valuable source of insight and information that can help you in your current role right now. I get information almost every day from social sites (sometimes direct, and sometimes indirect), that helps me in my current endeavors and may also help me in the future. Really good post.
hr bartender says
Thanks for the feedback. Rachel’s comment is spot on…no matter what application you sign up for…it’s the interaction that makes it valuable.
Niheel/HR Maven/Steve – I too am using blogs and Twitter more. It’s much more interactive.
Thanks to everyone who connected with me via this post. 2009 is going to be a big networking year.