I have a good friend I used to work with who is not happy at her current Job. She is recently divorced, and now that she is on her own she needs to make more money, pure and simple. One way to improve her situation is to get a job paying more money, as she is pretty much topped out what she is doing now. The job search has been going on for near six months now. She has had some interviews, but has repeatedly gotten, thanks but no thanks. There are many reasons for this, but I believe the greatest is lack of friends. She was married, but really didn’t keep in touch with old high school friends. As a couple they didn’t have many either.

Every Job I have ever gotten was through a friend. Networking is the single biggest factor in finding a new job. All too often, a small or medium size company that is looking to hire someone will look and hire from a network of friends before a stranger.

So, how do you go about establishing a network of friends? It is not always simple, and it takes time. Relationships grow over time. But, you must be ACTIVE in your pursuit. First, call some of your old friends. Have lunch or dinner with them. Make a habit of becoming social. Second, find local groups that interest you. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people. Also, look up a local Toastmasters group. This is a great organization and can help you get over some social phobias you may have. Also, consider online sources. Linkedin is a great website for this. However, don’t rule out Facebook and Myspace. You can reconnect with a lot of old friends on these sites. You would be surprised by how many people you probably already know on there.

Finally, going off of some advice my dad gave me. Never burn bridges with previous employers. Always try to leave with good feelings, whether you hated the job or not. Stay in contact with former employers and friends from former jobs. Bottom line, keep all doors open.

If you start networking and building these social interactions, opportunities will open. But, something even great will as well, you will have a ton of friends. You will develop some great relationships. Who knows, if you are single you may even find a spouse. But, at the very least you will grow as a person.

-rebel