For the second time in two months, our town lost power for many days leaving many of us cold, tired and grumpy. Watching how such events can bring a community together does, however, help to ameliorate the suffering.
For example, our street had hundreds of yards of extension cords connecting numerous sump pumps to the two generators owned by neighbors. The one person with a trailer hauled downed tree limbs from many yards and the few chain saws owned by people on our street buzz around us.
This is exactly the kind of spirit that CareerFuel hopes to foster with its professional networks—vibrant groups of people seeking to connect for the greater good.
Our jobs crisis is the everyday disaster that needs a vast coming together of Americans to solve it.
Networking is believed to be the means by which most jobs are acquired. And, according to CareerFuel’s proprietary market research, networking is the thing that people want the most help understanding.
Natural disasters are good teachers. Networking starts when you step out your front door and begin helping others. From there it extends to all your other worlds—both personal and professional. Each time you get to know someone and possibly help them you are building your bank of contacts and good will deposits. Going back to the example on our street, those people who shared their “toys” are well positioned for professional introductions if and when they need them.
How about you? Are you paying it forward so that you learn the art of networking? Will you have a network to tap into when a job search becomes part of your life?
If you have a networking story, write me at annmarie@careerfuel.net. My team and I would love to spread the word.
photo credit: ☺ Lee J Haywood via photopin cc