Working Knowledge A Monthly Column about Life on the Job

By Elisa F. Topper American Libraries Columnist Elisa F. Topper is director of the Dundee Township (Ill.) Public Library District and a career consultant. Contact her at working@ala.org. Column for December 2003

Putting Networks to Work

Everyone stresses the importance of networking, but so far I've managed to land good jobs—I'm currently the assistant director of a small public library in the Midwest—without making a second career out of schmoozing. Recently, however, my husband got an unrefusable offer to transfer to his company's New York office, and while we've always dreamed of moving there, I'm a little worried about starting over in a new region. Will the fact that I haven't made any efforts to network in the past work against me? Have I burned my bridges before they were even built?

Networking novice

How exciting to be able to start a new career in a new city! No, you haven't burned any bridges at this point; as a matter of fact, you're in a great position to begin building some new ones. You may also find that people are more apt to help a newcomer than someone established in the field in that city.
Twenty-five years ago I relocated to Chicago from Florida without knowing anyone in the area; and to make matters worse, the job I was hired for was frozen for six weeks. While I waited for the job to become available, I took time to get settled, to adjust to city life, and to begin to develop a network of colleagues by volunteering at ALA's Headquarters library.
Networking is just a fancy word for something we've been doing all our lives: talking to people. By doing so in a more conscious and directed manner, you can develop professional relationships, receive and disseminate career information, and, in some cases, make lifelong friendships. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reports that 94% of successful job seekers say networking played an important role in their careers.
People are sometimes intimidated by the idea of networking because they're worried about imposing on others. But most folks are generally willing to help out if asked, and good networkers also understand that help travels in both directions. After you've made a new contact, reinforce this idea by working to build a mutual relationship-even simple actions like sending a congratulatory note for an award or forwarding pertinent magazine articles can help nurture your network.
Don't underestimate the power of connecting with people through your current network: Even if you didn't build it deliberately, you do have one. Let colleagues and friends know you are relocating to New York and ask them to put you in touch with people they know there. I'm always amazed how we are all connected through those famous six degrees of separation.
Before your move, obtain a list of local library chapters, and contact your alumni offices to find chapters in New York where you can begin to network. You'll also want to ready your résumé and business cards so you can begin applying for jobs before you get caught up in the logistics of the move. You can also gather information about jobs in your new location through informational interviews (AL, Oct., p. 74) by telephone for now and in person once you have relocated.
Once you're settled in your new home, you'll want to participate in professional associations by attending events and, more importantly, by volunteering for committee assignments. There is no better way of meeting colleagues than working together!

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Additional Resources

• Articles at content.monster.com/career/networking/ and www.quintcareers.com/networking_resources.html.
  
• SchmoozeMonger, “The Networking Überportal,” www.schmoozemonger.com.
  
• Make Your Contacts Count: Networking Know-How for Cash, Clients, and Career Success by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon (American Management Association, 2002).
  
• Professional Networking for Dummies by Donna Fisher (Hungry Minds, 2001).
  
• The Art of the Shmooze: A Savvy Social Guide for Getting to the Top by Bret Saxon and Steve Stein (SPI Books, 1998).
  
• How to Work a Room: The Ultimate Guide to Savvy Socializing in Person and Online by Susan RoAne (HarperResource, 2000).
  

(c) Copyright 2003 American Library Association