Job Hunting Tip #13: Stay in Regular Touch with your Contacts

I was chatting with a client of mine last week and he mentioned to me that it seems like I always stay in touch with him even when his company does not have any deals on which they need our assistance. I told him that one of the lessons I learned really early in my career is to accumulate friends and business associates and to acknowledge important life-cycle events as an excuse to stay in touch with people during the year. Fortunately Outlook makes up for what is traditionally my poor memory as I am able to document recurring reminders (indefinitely) with very little ease.

Given tools like Outlook that facilitate staying in touch, I am surprised that so few people stay in regular touch with others in the industry, especially those who might be “influencers” and assist them when the need arises.

I know of at least two people who are currently unemployed right now who, at some point in their careers, worked with me to land a job; yet, despite months of being unemployed they are not regularly calling me to find out if there are any opportunities that are a good match with their skill set.

With the employment market as soft as it is today, one should leverage every relationship possible to maximize the likelihood of landing a good job. Call your industry contacts regularly, even if it is just to say hello or wish them a happy birthday. It could be the easiest way to learn about job openings.