Landing a job isn’t the easiest task. Many job seekers end up scouring the Web for job openings and sending out a million emails, resume attached, only to hear silence back. 
The fact is, there are plenty of job seekers who get one aspect of the job search wrong from the very beginning, and their mistake follows them throughout their attempts to land a new position: they just aren’t networking often enough.
Contrary to popular belief, networking isn’t just something job seekers need to be doing during the three to six months they’re looking for a new position–it’s something everyone needs to be doing all the time, 24/7, no matter if you’re employed or not.
Why? Because building professional relationships doesn’t happen overnight, and networking certainly isn’t something you can expect to do only when it’s convenient for you. Just as you wouldn’t close your mind to the possibility of a new friendship or romantic relationship at any point in your life–these things often happen when we least expect it–professional relationships are also something you need to keep your mind open to all the time, not just when you’re looking for a job.
Because when you start randomly sending out a million LinkedIn messages to people you haven’t been in contact with for years, it’s going to look suspicious. You don’t want your friends to think you’re only around when you need something from them, and you don’t want your professional contacts to think this, either.
That’s why networking is something job seekers need to keep on their radar at all times. And don’t worry–this doesn’t mean you need to take time out of your busy schedule to attend networking events every week for the rest of your life. It simply means you need to recognize when you’ve met someone in your industry who you look up to, or someone whose professional work you admire in general, and making an effort to stay in touch with them. This could just mean shooting them an email once every few months to see how their latest project is progressing, or meeting up for coffee to catch up and exchange stories.
Maintaining professional relationships doesn’t have to be difficult. If you’re vigilant and keep up regular contact with your most trusted professional contacts on a regular basis, chances are, you’ll be the first person they think of when a new position or opportunity opens up. Good luck!
Job seekers, do you make a point to network 24/7? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in a comment below!
