Networking is about more than collecting business cards or even connections on LinkedIn, and can help you if you want to change careers.
"Whether someone is shifting industries, moving into leadership, or launching a new venture, relationships often open the right doors. Making the effort to build and maintain professional networks can make or break your career," says Busani Gumede, an academic at Regent Business School.
He advises:
- Changing career in your 40s or later requires both skills and connections;
- Showing that you are willing to learn new skills will encourage managers that you have the right attitude;
- Many senior positions are filled via personal recommendations, so who you know can open doors for you;
- Talk to your connections to find someone who has made a successful mid-career change for their advice; and
- People you have worked with can vouch for you as someone trustworthy and reliable as you change careers.
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