Does business networking work?

Reading a careers book it says it is a good idea to do networking - to build up a network of ex-work colleagues, people in other businesses, networking organisations, and cold-calling companies to speak to and get to know people.





Has anyone tried this? And did it help you in your career?

Does business networking work?
DEFINITELY - networking can help you in your business and in your career





You get to know about job openings before others learn about it. Or someone can recommend you to their bosses for the position because they happened to know you. Or they can introduce you to people who can help you - whether you need funding for a business idea or getting information.





In fact if you are in business, networking is very critical as it can help you land new clients, find investors, find mentors who can guide you, and just someone to pretty much bounce off ideas.





That's why they say never to burn your bridges when you leave a company, because the network you built in that previous employment may prove valuable later on.
Reply:Oh yes! I know a woman in our department who got job just with the help of networking... she is so lucky .. she is so friendly and always planning group lunch and stuff.. gets to work around noon and leaves at 5:00 or something like that.. she has made friends with the bosses and their networks as well ...


Business networking works...
Reply:i would say so , i know many business people who swear by it i know it sounds lame but i would say to my husband can we not go eat somewhere else , he'd say no its networking etc etc and sure a shot he has gotten stacks of business simply through eating in the right places and mixing with the people who may need his business or may someone who might need it , then they tell others so you mix with them etc your reading about it so theres no need for me to waffle on , but its worked for him no end in fact its been the main stay of his IT business.


best of luck
Reply:All that networking means is that you take a structured approach to the people you communicate with. You keep a note of who you've spoken to, what they do and where you met them. You always help other people if they are looking for someone by referring to the 'contacts' you have in your list - broker those meetings if you want to earn extra brownie points. Be seen as a good networker and the right people will be there for you when you need them.
Reply:I've never done it myself, but I've hired plenty of people who used networking to learn of an opening and apply for it. It does work because many jobs are never advertised. It also happens that there is no official opening, but that a particular individual is so compelling that the business searches for an opening for him/her. These jobs only exist because the individual comes to the attention of the organization and the only way to do that is by networking.