You jumped into “job search” mode, networked like crazy, met some terrific people, joined LinkedIn, and continued to stay active even when some potential offers appeared imminent.
And landed a great job.
What now?
You keep at it – and here’s why…
The job wasn’t a fit
I get out to talk with people at all sorts of events – professional groups, networking sessions, and even school events.
It’s a fact of professional life that many people are “looking” 3-9 months after landing a new job because it isn’t working out. And it doesn’t matter who’s fault it is, it just is.
It couldn’t happen again
A couple large employers have taken care of quite a few employees in this area – and your area might be like that too. When things turned bad, they had to cut some of their employees.
And people that hadn’t thought about finding a new employer in 10-20 years suddenly had to do so.
Some of them went right back to work, but dropped off their networking activities because they didn’t think it could happen again.
I know because when they suddenly found that new company also downsizing and needed to “get back into it again”, they mentioned it to me…
Perhaps it feels disloyal
I’m not sure, and maybe a reader can help me with it, but it seems like half of the people who lose their job, network, and then find a new job just stop networking.
Perhaps it’s the “too much to do now” aspect of the new job.
Or they left their comfort zone and want to retreat back into it.
And maybe they think the new employer will think less of them if the employer found out they still networked…
Three reasons to continue to network
Ok, I don’t generally do lists, but here’s three reasons that you’ll want to continue to network – and use LinkedIn – after you land that new position:
- You might be looking for work in 6 months. It’s true – through no fault of your own, it could happen again, and you know how hard it was to get “into” things the first time – stay in.
- It’s great to stay in touch with the people you know. Perhaps they’ll need some help, and you’ll be able to return a favor or two.
- You can use your network to build even greater success in your new job. That’s right – continue to network so that you’ll be able to answer questions you have about your new position, and make new contacts that can help the business. Keep growing, the “new” you succeeds through networking.
Of those three, the last is the most significant – if networking helped you find a new job, it isn’t too hard to figure out how to extend that networking to continue to help you. Make networking a standard part of your business life.
To your continued success – and using LinkedIn to help you achieve it,
steve
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