Part 5 of 5
Networking
Connecting with people who care
There is a great book on networking called The Power of Who by Bob Beaudine that has at its cornerstone the statement, “You already know everyone who you need to know.” We miss out on so many opportunities during our career transition phase because we don’t take advantage of what Bob speaks about in The Power of Who. We fail to be clear in what we seek as we go through our career transition, and more importantly, we fail to engage with those who care about us and have our best interests at heart. We often spend our time trying to network with those that have no vested interest in our success. Instead we should make sure our teammates, family, and friends know about our career situation as well as our career interests. By doing this, we create a force-multiplier far in excess of anything we can do on our own.
In order to take advantage of the opportunities provided by your “Who” (teammates, family and friends) you must have:
- An up to date and professional resume
- An up to date personal brand via LinkedIn or other industry recognized platform
- A clear vision of what role or roles you are qualified for and interested in
- Location options
- Willingness to connect with your “Who” and let them know your situation as well as the four items listed above
There are many variables and challenges in successfully managing a career transition. I can’t begin to cover them all here, but I hope if you are going through a transition or know someone who is, that you can use these basic tools to gain traction as you push yourself to the next level.
We are teammates and fellow “B” Association members and we share a special bond built on sweat, blood, and effort through our collegiate career. If you have career questions that are not addressed in this segment please let me know and I will do my best to address them directly with you.
Sic ’em Bears!
Ken Buckley
Football Letterwinner 1977, 1980
“B” Association Board Member
Kenneth Buckley is the Assistant Dean for Career Management – Baylor Business School. He has 10 years with Baylor, overseeing undergrad and graduate career management for the Business School and is responsible for career development, employer engagement, and career placement, including 9 years of experience teaching career classes for BBAs and MBAs. Ken is also a published author in the career field, 2nd edition College to the Career You Love by Kendall Hunt Publishing. Prior to Baylor, he spent 24 years of progressive management experience in the technology industry with start-ups and large public companies.