I’ve always been a firm believer in its not WHAT you know; its WHO you know. That’s at least what gets you in the door. You obviously have to have the goods to back it up, but quite often just by knowing the right people, it gets you ahead of the game. This is extrememly true when it comes to job searching for finding a client. I’ve been offered several jobs because of WHO I know and their recommendation.
I went to a function a couple of nights ago that had plenty of opportunity to network. I typically try to make this kind of opportunity once a quarter or at least once every six months. Last night I met a few people, got a few cards, but I didn’t go around trying to meet lots of people because right now I’m very happy in my current position and to be honest, I’m not sure it could get much better. But, it’s always good to know people just in case.
I’m curious to know how many people in this industry make use of local technology events or speakers to network with people. This is the first one I’ve been to since I’ve lived in Savannah, but I went to a couple in Arizona and numerous ones in Seattle. Do you get out and network? Do you feel it helps you in anyway?