Yesterday, I was pleased to join a number of fellow alumni
at a nice hotel adjacent to the Public Garden in Boston.
Interestingly, it was organized by the School of Management
with a formal presentation on “branding”. This was the third
alumni event I have attended this year, each gathering brought
together different groups, had different agendas and were
stimulating from different perspectives.
[International Business school- networking; Computer science
and Information management- how to have successful careers]
One question was raised, that was a bit off topic, by CW. It led
to a follow-up discussion. The question was: What do you
recommend and how should I “keep my network alive” after I
accept a new position offer?
Presuming CW sent (1)thank you notes to each key person and
(2) updated key networking profiles, there are several ways to
keep your network active. They include:
(3) - contribute to online discussions proactively offering
what your experiences have taught you (in a positive way)
(4) - display your commitment to your network by offering
help and being timely, courteous, and appropriate.
Remember: a network is not formed in an instant, but over time.
(5) - ask permission if you use them as a referral
(6) - be patient using “controlled persistence” in communicating
(7) - follow-up strategically with contributory information
(8) - don’t be afraid to ask for help, ask questions of your network
(9) - develop a team of mentors and create a toolkit for yourself
so you can act as a mentor for others.
[reference material, collections of key articles, different
online resources and tools, provide recommendations as
appropriate, add attributes to your profile]
(10) - set and communicate personal goals