STAYING IN (HIGH)TOUCH WITH HIGH TECH...

We seem to be most comfortable when we are developing along with colleagues we already know and respect.  Some colleagues even venture forth, leveraging their development in networking and meeting with colleagues that they come to know and respect... digitally.  Let's not confuse the hours spent on Internet job and resume "banks" with productive job search. Much of my counsel to you lies in the strength of networking.  Not networking as a job search skill, but, as an essential element of the rest of your career.  Now, let's leverage THAT with an assist from technology, suggesting that we create E-community activities to support and complement our professional development within our profession, our industry or even our geographic region:

• Spontaneous "instant messaging" and email exchange with colleagues we already know and trust...communication ranging from simple greetings to significant information exchange;

• Regular exchange, on a less time sensitive basis, with email and bulletin board activity (social media GROUP activity and interaction) amongst colleagues with similar interests;

• A scheduled and broader exchange with newsgroups and listserves--or even on-line, INTERACTIVE events scheduled throughout the year. 

• As in the case of human evolution, our own WWWeb-o-lution is limited only by our own creativity.  The technology already awaits us to leverage our local, regional and International "tribal" Conferences with the use of simple online discussion groups... to video-conferencing... to ???

Can we leverage our knowledge through the synergy of E-networking?  Can we expand the horizons of our self development and personal career management by taking some baby steps together?

My favorite Internet networking community is LINKED IN. It allows you to leverage your time in developing your personal contact network by electronically, and geometrically, growing your network.  Through a tightly controlled invitation process you can combine networks with your colleagues, all from the comfort of your computer.  Use the LinkedIn process as a map toward connecting with your next contact!

Now, don't forget the high TOUCH component of this powerful system.  As your E-network grows, leverage the identification of key contacts with personal phone calls, email and other appropriate communication to reach out into your expanding network list.  In this manner, the focus and the direction that your network takes is not limited by your time management.  Instead, you now have an approach to expand the reach and effectiveness of whatever your contact management approach may be.

As your REAL Network expands, enter each new contact into your contact management tool... I like the ease and full integration of MS OUTLOOK.  Remember, this is a career-long project... it is quite limiting to think of networking as only a job search drudgery.  Its a project worth never completing!!

Networking is a contact sport!!!

Bob Maher, CMF, The Careerpilot