Completing a job transition by landing a new job is a big moment for those who must go through it. After a challenging period, almost certainly with no shortage of stress and uncertainty, as well as periods of confidence and lack thereof, there is some relief and hopefully excitement at the new beginning. From there, one is undoubtedly ready to get to work and make the most of the opportunity.
All of that is great and makes sense. But if you are ever that person, you will do well to avoid a cardinal sin – that of not networking once you land a job.
One thing that makes networking difficult for many people is that we often learn about its importance when we’re in need – when we’re in a job transition. We intuitively understand the idea, but it doesn’t come easily to many (I am the voice of experience on this one). Learning about it in this context makes it harder, and can also make it feel like a necessary evil. It can be easy to wonder how anyone can enjoy networking.
Given this, when you land a new job, there is now one more apparent rationale to stop networking. There are already reasons why even in the best case scenarios, networking activity will decrease – no time for daytime networking events (while working), other essential time commitments in the evening and a desire to focus on the new job to get off to a great start. It’s understandable, and I know the feeling.
When I was in a job transition for about six months in 2017, I attended over 80 networking events, along with a three-day conference, several full days of events at a week-long series and training or corporate events that each lasted multiple hours of the day or even the full day. I knew when I landed my new job I would never keep up that pace. However, not keeping up that pace doesn’t mean it goes down to zero networking events over a number of months.
During my transition, I attended many events in part because I had the time available and felt it would be worth my while. I often attended multiple events on the same day, in fact. But along the way, some were better than others, knowledge that came in handy when I landed. Armed with that knowledge, I was in a position to most frequently attend the events that were most valuable to me, while rarely if ever attending the ones that I didn’t feel brought as much value.
Of course, there is more to networking that simply going to events. You must follow up with people you meet at events and connect further after the event. LinkedIn makes this easier than ever, although that also should not be the extent of your connection. Meeting in-person should be part of it, or at least having a conversation via a tool like Zoom in the current COVID-19 environment. Meeting someone at a networking event is meaningless if that is the only time you’re ever in contact with that person.
One basic reality of networking is that, as Jordan Harbinger often says in talking about his networking course, you have to dig the well before you’re thirsty. When you’re out of work and need to build relationships to find your next job, it’s already too late. Additionally, in that scenario there’s a natural tendency to become more of a taker because you’re in real need at that point, even if you’re naturally a giver. Continuing to network while you are working serves the purpose of digging the well before you’re thirsty.
Ashley Watkins, one of LinkedIn’s top voices and a certified resume writer and job search and interview coach, shared a story not long ago about one of her clients that helps drive this home. A client she worked with a few years earlier got laid off during the current pandemic, but in short order he had several solid interviews lined up and a contract job offer. The first thing she highlighted about this client is that he didn’t stop networking after his last job search, and networking was how he landed his new job. It’s not hard to think that a big reason he got results so quickly was because of continuing to network.
Networking has value well beyond landing a job, of course. You might find a good sales lead from someone in your network, or a contact at a company that has something you need. You can ask for referrals for service work like home or auto maintenance, especially in an area you’re not very familiar with. Most of all, you can help other people, which should be your first motivation, and that also brings inner satisfaction.
Besides all of that, once you land a new job, you can network with the most free of minds. Any pressure you might have felt while networking as a job-seeker is gone, which should make your conversations easier and allow for even better connections. It’s easier to help people because you don’t have this need of yours tugging away at the giver in you. This is not to say that being in a job transition turns everyone into a taker, but there’s no denying that it’s natural to feel a bit of pressure to land a job as soon as you can when in transition. That pressure can change anyone.
Continuing to network after landing a new job gives you a form of career insurance. While one should never hope to be laid off, by networking all along, the prospect of being let go is not as scary as it would otherwise be. Additionally, the right opportunity could always present itself well ahead of something like that ever happening. While it takes some management, like a lot of things in life, the benefits of networking after landing a new job are immense, and as such, not doing so is a cardinal sin for your career.