This is one of my favourite topics - it is so often misunderstood and yet is one of the most important activities everyone has to do everyday. Some people are natural born networkers - they connect with people and they are perfectly comfortable giving and taking. Others feel very uncomfortable with the idea of 'using' people.
My definition of networking is this: the circles of people around you who feel compelled to help you when you need it. The first and closest circle is made up of family and best friends, the second circle consists of colleagues/acquaintences/teachers and, finally, the third circle would be people who are connected to you in other ways (alumni, friend of a friend, relative's colleague - anyone who has some kind of indirect connection to you).
People in the first circle will help you unprompted, and you should be bonked in the head if you do not take advantage of them. They know you best and can vouch for you. People in the outermost circle must be persuaded to help you. Networking is most powerful when you are able to access people in the last circle and move them into in your second or first circles - when they know you well enough to want to help you. This could be due to 1) how well you have positioned yourself (they can see why helping you helps them or someone they know), 2) how much they liked you based on your approach (you have asked them questions they are happy to answer) or 3) they owe you (you have helped them first).
Networking is not about showing up at a function; it is not being the most popular person around... it is a long term development of people who want and are able to help each other.
ARE YOU GROWING AND NURTURING YOUR NETWORK? DO YOU ACTIVELY LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN JOB SEARCH MODE? CAN YOU FIND DIFFERNT WAYS TO NETWORK THAT BEST SUIT YOUR STYLE?
