The angels in your network

When I started my last job transition, I made a point of enlisting help early.  I sent a positive, professional email to many in my network letting them know that I was no longer reachable at my last company, and that I was in the process of looking for a new position.  In this way, saying I “enlisted help” may not be accurate, because I didn’t actually ask.  Rather, I informed…  and hoped some key people would get the hint.

I was lucky.  More than one person I contacted reached out and took me under their wing, offering to make introductions for me, serve as a reference, or otherwise support my job search.  And even better, they delivered.  They didn’t just say they would help, they actually did it.  And my professional prospects were improved for their help.

These are the angels in my network.  We could all use more of them.

Who are the angels in your network?  And a better question, for whom in your network are you the angel?
photo credit: Ana_Cotta

Related posts:

1. Trust and Networking: 3 Keys to a Business Network that Works
2. Job search over 50: Unique challenges, unique opportunities
3. How to Network in the New Year: Best of the Blog 2009
4. Informational Interview Etiquette: Make the Most of your Meeting
5. The “What if?” factor

Tagged as: angels, Career, introductions, job change, job hunt, job search, job seekers, Leadership, mentoring, networking, transition