I'm a 30-year-old R & D manager in a medical devices company located in San Diego. I have worked in this organization for my entire career. What concerns me is that I have absolutely no professional contacts outside of the company. Working long hours and raising a family have not left much time for developing such contacts. At the present, things are going well, but I fully understand that my situation could change overnight. If I ever end up with the "boss from hell" or we have a lay off, I won't know where to turn. How do I get started in building a network?

You have reason to be concerned. Should you ever need to find new employment, you will come face to face with the following statistic "70% of jobs are filled through word of mouth." Seeking employment is only one reason to have a robust network. It's very easy to become stale professionally when you don't have an opportunity to discuss business with people outside your company. A network can be a source of valuable ideas when you are trying to solve complex problems or identify technical resources. Should you become a hiring manager, your network will be the best source of high quality applicants.

My recommendation is that you use the five-step process described below. If you work at this process consistently, your life will be positively changed.

1. Establish Goals:

   Before you charge off to build your network, first establish your professional goals for the next three years. If you want to eventually be a VP, then your network strategy will be very different than if your goal is to start your own business or move to a start-up firm.

2. Identify People and Places:

   Who are the people that can help you meet your professional goals? Where do they hang out? Make it your business, from this point forward, to grow you network for the rest of your career. The biggest lesson for me in networking has been that I must constantly be adding to my list of contacts and never become complacent.

3. Seek Out Centers of Influence:

   There are people in very profession who are "mega networkers." People who often fall into this category include search firm executives, lawyers, bankers and PR folks who specialize in your industry. These individuals can open doors, make introductions and facilitate deals. It may take a while to get in front of a "Center of Influence" but it is worth the effort. Start building your list now.

4. Develop a Philosophy of Reciprocity:

   Look for ways to help the people you meet before expecting anything from them. The phrase, "you need to give before you get," is a wonderful guideline for networking success.

5. Follow-up Like a Demon:

   Going to professional association meetings, networking events and conferences and collecting a stack of business cards is a waste of time - unless you follow-up. Go for quality, not quantity when attending these meetings. Take time to build relationships for the long haul. Find out what you can do to help people and develop relationships incrementally over time. Follow-up, at minimum, with an e-mail the day after meeting someone you want to build a relationship with. If you can send along information, leads or an introduction to someone in your network, all the better.

Whether you stay with your current employer for many years or not, start building your network today. The people you meet will enrich your life and you will develop a unique confidence knowing that there are scores of people invested in your success.

Related Reading: You may also want to read my article,"How To Recession-Proof Your Career."