rapidfire

New Year’s Goal Mission: Transition

I

n 2015, resolve to make an ef- fort each week to strengthen your network of professional contacts who can be helpful if you’re suddenly or unex- pectedly in the job hunt. Nationwide, 70 percent of all jobs are gained through net- working. It’s probably higher for director- level and senior positions. Simply put, networking is the process of building alliances that can lead to ev- erything from new ideas and new strate- gies to a new job or a board seat. However, successful networking requires self- confidence and the ability to stretch your thinking to find common ground with people you might not know well. Begin the year by making a list of the

50 most important people in your extend- ed professional and personal network.

Resolve to reach out to one of these indi- viduals each week to make a connection, strengthen your rapport, and exchange ideas with one member of your extended professional network. Skip networking during vacation and the year-end holi- days, of course. If you’re lucky enough to have a job

you love, open yourself to the idea of helping others who are less fortunate. Be supportive, return calls, answer emails, and talk to strangers at meetings and professional symposia. A final thought on resolutions: Charac-

ter is revealed in the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed. — Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), direc- tor, MOAA Transition Center

Share With Your Network

Sharing information is a good way to reach out and increase your visibility among your extended network. Offer ideas, resources, and contacts that might be helpful. Emailing interesting news stories, which is done easily from the websites of na-

tional periodicals (or MOAA), is an excel- lent way to make a connection. The best approach

is to treat networking as a two-way street: The more you give, the more you will receive. Browse for more

career-building tools and helpful articles at www.moaa.org/career — and share these resources with your contacts who might need a career boost.

online: Find more career-focused articles at www.moaa.org/careerarticles. IMAGES: ABOVE, TOM COCOTOS; RIGHT, SHUTTERSTOCK

JANUARY 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 31