It’s All About Who You Know

It’s not news that networking is a vital to jobseekers on the hunt for a new career. It’s said regularly by professionals and job seekers alike, “It’s all about who you know”. Do you know the right people? Whether you are just starting your networking venture or consider yourself a networking veteran, there are five top individuals who should be in your network.

The Mentor. This is a person who has accomplished the amount of success you wish to one day accomplish. They will act as a coach and someone to guide you through your professional journey, all while offering tips and recommendations based on their experience.

The Industry Specialist. This individual has great insight in the industry and is willing to share their wealth of information with you. They cannot only keep you up-to-date on industry trends but inform you when they believe trends are going to change.

The Social Butterfly. We all know at least one of these, it’s a person who seems to know just about everyone. They tend to have unique ways of connecting to people and are certainly someone you should be regularly connecting with.

The Companion. Someone who is in a similar place as you that you will more than likely develop a friendship with. This is a vital resource when it comes to sharing and learning from experiences.

The Mentee. Much like your mentor serves as a guide, you will in turn mentor this individual who is not yet as professionally accomplished as you might be.

When you review your network, you may find that some of these connections are already established. To ensure that your network is doing the most it can for your professional profile, take time to fill in any gaps.