Networking: Building Relationships Throughout Your Career

People overthink this concept of networking. They view it as seeking out people that can help with a specific something today, a potential job opportunity, a business transaction. The problem is, with having that mindset, is that what you need help with today may be radically different than what you need help with tomorrow, so my concept of networking is rather simple. Any person you interact with at any point in time and in any venue should be considered part of your network. It doesn’t matter if the interaction is at school, with an employer, within a charitable endeavor, a church group, or quite simply, and this one’s often overlooked, within your circle of friends. You just never know if, how, when these individuals could assist you in the future.