Working Strategies: The things you need for networking post-60

Amy Lindgren This is the third of columns on career planning post- which will appear the second Sunday of each month from September through August Everyone has heard it maybe you ve even stated it yourself The best way to find work and build careers is through other people Networking is the common name for this process although that term and the practice can sometimes feel off-putting to the very people who need to do it For workers in their s and beyond those are simple problems compared to the reality of a retiring expiring cohort To put it bluntly the older we get the more likely our contacts have left the workplace or worse this mortal coil on a permanent basis Now what That s this week s subject for my Second Sunday series on career planning for workers in their s s and s My job is to a convince you that networking at this stage in your life is workable acceptable and useful and b help you identify how you might go about it We ll tackle the convincing aspect first If you ve been put off by the concept of networking it may be from a sense of pride or the perception that requesting career help from others is using them Or you may feel that networking into a job takes unfair advantage or hints of nepotism Feelings aside the facts are clear Networking is key to creating job opportunities and unfailingly has been To ease any discomfort try changing the terminology to building professional relationships This might clarify the mutuality of the practice as well as its importance You may still have misgivings but since you re still reading we ll move on to the whys and hows of building professional relationships in your later working years The whys go far beyond the possibility that a contact will lead you to a job although that happens frequently As you build relationships you re also broadening your perspective Each person you talk with in this ceiling helps you know more about the field you re in or as of now considering or provides insight into other fields for you to explore Professional contacts can also be problem-solvers helping you identify the best pathways forward in your work life or connecting you to people who have solutions for whatever challenge you re facing They can also provide essential information or otherwise offer shortcuts that accelerate your process These are solid reasons but how does someone in their s or beyond build professional relationships when their own cohort may not be viable The same techniques a younger person does it but with various variance Attend things That s not very specific for a reason The broader your interpretation of things the more spontaneous the contacts could be Rather than focusing only on events designed for networking broaden your list to include open houses locality forums conferences and any other meeting where people from your field or from a variety of professions might be gathered For quality connections in-person attendance is key Join things If you know the work you want to do or the broader industry such as development or vitality care joining a related committee or a professional association or even the board of a relevant nonprofit will bring you into immediate and meaningful contact with others in the field Learn things Anything from hour-long sessions to full certificates or degree programs will introduce you to experts and instructors who might be open to providing additional advice or contacts As a bonus the other learners can become a cohort for you Do things As an example volunteering can be a good path to building connections with others who share your interests and to the paid staff of the organizations themselves In all four things categories attending joining learning and doing the emphasis is on meeting people in fields that at this time or potentially interest you Naturally not every connection will blossom into a relationship but every person you meet can still be part of the larger puzzle For that reason remember to collect contact information when attainable while asking if they d be open to a conversation at certain later point After the initial encounter sending a brief email or text is both gracious and strategic This lets them know you valued the time together while also providing them a cue to respond if they d like If these connecting practices don t come naturally to you give them time They get easier and the rewards can be life-changing Related Articles Working Strategies Job search outreach Don t call it networking Working Strategies Job search best practices require discipline Working Strategies Customize cover letters but there are shortcuts Working Strategies Job search over purpose vs paycheck Working Strategies Making the largest part of college internships Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St Paul She can be reached at alindgren prototypecareerservice com