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If you want to find a job that is linked to your A or B plan, you have to network. There's no other way of saying it. The hidden job market, perhaps overused, but none the less the best way of obtaining employment. If you aren't networking, tapping into your social resources, then you're going to be left behind. So the question becomes, are you networking?

While this is key for job seekers, it is also equally important for career practitioners. Whether it's helping your clients identify job leads or looking for resources to be a more effective practitioner, we all need to be tapping into our network.

I delivered a 2 day workshop the other day and one of the particiapants emailed me after saying that they got in contact with an ex boss they had 4 years ago. They weren't thinking of even contacting them prior to the workshop - perhaps not thinking that there would be any value or maybe even wanting to save face. However, they did get in contact and the ex boss was more than glad to set up a meeting to discuss things. May not lead to anything, but the point is that this individual connected and something may come out of it.

It's all about bringing networking to the conscious level. We may not be the best at it or for that matter or even comfortable doing it, but we have to continue to network so that helpful information can enter our lives. The good news is that networking is a learnable/teachable skill. If we don't connect, it's going to be along and challenging road.

JP