Networking is what most of us start thinking about when we start looking for jobs. We start scrambling around and try to connect with new people or reconnect with old and forgotten friends. All this may stop after getting a decent job which will keep us “busy” for the rest of our lives.
In my opinion, “Networking” is not something you do, it is a by product of our social behavior. It is result of how we maintain our personal and social relations. If you are a 20 year old, it is very likely that you might have come across a couple hundred people so far in life, some at school, some at events you attend with your family and some while traveling around. It is not possible to remember and keep track of all these people and be connected after a while for two reasons. One, you may not have enough time to stay in touch, which I do not believe, but a legitimate reason. Two, you don’t see a benefit for being connected, purely a selfish reason. Even if you spend about five minutes per person every 3 months, it only amounts to 10 minutes a day. If you cannot spare 10 minutes, you must be working 2 full-time jobs and have a couple of kids. However, keeping in touch with the people might have gotten easier with the advent of social networking tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Myspace. It is different topic of discussion how to use these tools effectively.
Continual interaction with all the people you come across in life creates your social network which you can tap into to share your happiness, solicit advice or ask for help when needed. For example, alumni networks may be one of the most under utilized social networks today. David Hernandez founded Liberty Power, a $193 million dollar business, by building his management team largely through his alumni network.
Starting the process of “networking” when you are in need of a job or a favor, takes time and the relations that have “need” as a basis may not last long. Try and be be good to the people you come across you will never lose. This world will be a better place if we all stay connected.
Posted by Sundeep 
