imaginima/E+ via Getty Images
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET's key takeaways
Most job opportunities never make it to the want ads.
Networking is the most powerful job-search tool available.
There's a professional association or user group for every aspect of technology.
First, a confession: I have a bias toward this article's topic. In a previous career, I served as director of a professional association, called the Administrative Management Society, which produced events, publications, and research for its 12,000 members across North America. The membership consisted of IT, HR, and finance managers, who joined to advance their knowledge and connect with colleagues. It is here I learned how networking -- the human-to-human kind -- is the key to career advancement in this world. And this holds true more than ever as we journey into the digital age.
Also: The IT job market keeps shrinking, but not for everyone - or everywhere
It's that golden rule -- the more you know, the better your employment-advancement prospects. But the more people you know, the more those prospects expand. Nothing is more powerful than the networks you build. If you have a problem with a certain technology, you can contact someone who may have experienced the same issue. If you need a well-vetted professional to fill a job role in your ranks, you can call a colleague for recommendations.
And if you need new employment, you can contact people in your network for leads.
... continue reading