HBR Women at Work Series Collection (3 Books)

11

How to Maintain Your Professional Network over the Years

by Rebecca Knight

Everyone knows it’s important to build a network. But once you’ve made a connection with someone, how do you maintain it over the long haul so that you can call the person when you need help (e.g., a job reference or a professional favor)? How frequently should you be in touch with your contacts? And how do you balance efforts to bring in new people while staying in touch with those you’ve known for a while?

What the Experts Say

Networking is linked to many measures of professional success—including getting promoted, having influence, earning more money, and feeling more satisfied in your career. “Research shows that networks give people access to information, such ...