When to Start Building Your Professional Network

If you're a Director, Principal, or senior-level professional, here's a hard truth about job search in a highly competitive market ↓ Waiting until you NEED a job to start networking, updating your resume, or clarifying your value... is too late. I’ve coached hundreds through pivots, layoffs, and transitions, and I’ve heard this statement too often: “I wish I had been more proactive when I wasn’t looking.” Want to make your next job search simpler? Here are 3 things I now encourage every professional to do, before they need to: 1. Build your “career insurance” network Start reconnecting with old managers, peers, and industry contacts now. Don’t wait until you need a favor. ↳Reconnect with 1–2 former colleagues per week with a simple check-in message ↳Comment on posts from people you'd want to work with again ↳Offer value or share relevant resources without asking for anything ↳Keep a short list of 15–20 people you want to stay top-of-mind with 2. Keep a running “career log” Every major win, metric, or team success should be documented as it happens. ↳Use a simple Google Doc or spreadsheet; one entry per project ↳Capture: problem, your actions, measurable outcomes, and key skills used ↳Include quotes or positive feedback from leadership or clients ↳Update this monthly; schedule a 30-minute slot to make it a habit 3. Refresh your LinkedIn every 3-6 months Even if you're not job searching, your profile should tell a clear, current story. ↳Update your headline to reflect target roles and keywords ↳Rewrite your “About” section to highlight your latest accomplishments and results ↳Make sure your most recent role includes quantifiable wins and data-driven impact ↳Get fresh recommendations every few months ↳Add new skills or certifications - - - No one wants to scramble under pressure. Give your future self a head start. What would you add to my list?

Over 5,000 people lost their jobs. I was one of them. It was the 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣6️⃣ oil crisis. I wasn’t prepared for the news. In just a few days, I had to leave my Abu Dhabi apartment, return my car, and cancel my visa. With no income and no place to stay, I was stranded in a foreign country. For a moment it really felt like everything was collapsing. But I knew I couldn’t just wait for things to improve. I stayed active in the industry, attended SPE events amd conferences, and leaned on my network for support. Slowly, those efforts paid off. 14 months later — much longer than I expected — I landed an incredible job offer that set me on a new path. Here’s what I learned along the way 💎: 1️⃣Job security isn’t promised: External factors, like an industry crisis, can take everything away, no matter how skilled or successful you are. 2️⃣Build your network when things are good: Your network is your greatest asset, but don’t wait until you’re in crisis to build it. Cultivate meaningful, trustworthy connections now, so when challenges arise, you have people who are willing to support you. 3️⃣Recovery takes longer than expected: I thought I’d bounce back in a couple of months, but it took over a year. Progress is slow, but every step forward counts. 4️⃣Be prepared before the storm hits: Don’t wait for things to fall apart to update your CV or connect with people. Ensure your professional life — CV, LinkedIn, and relationships — is in order now, so you’re ready when the unexpected happens. 5️⃣Your mindset shapes your recovery: In difficult times, your mental resilience is just as important as your skills. Staying focused, positive, and persistent helped me navigate those uncertain months and come out stronger. Tell me - Where were you in 2016? Did you change your job that time? #CareerResilience #NetworkingPower #JobSecurity PS: yes I was blond and had glasses that time

The biggest networking mistake I see people make is that they wait until they are desperate to start meeting people. They wait until they're out of work to start making connections, or they wait until they think they're about to lose their job. Then, all of a sudden, networking becomes a priority. Networking needs to be done when you have a job. When you're satisfied in your career, and when you are doing it just to make connections for the future. It's never too late to start, but when your first meeting starts with, "I need a job," that's very different than your first conversation starting with, "I really just wanted to meet you."

One of the biggest mistakes I see people make is waiting until they need a job, a referral, or a favor to start reaching out. But relationships aren’t transactional…they’re transformational. Your network is your community. And like any strong relationship, it needs to be nurtured over time. That means: - Checking in just because. - Sending a “thinking of you” message with no ask attached. Yes! You can do this. I promise it’s not weird! - Celebrating others’ wins and sharing opportunities with them. - Reaching out to offer help, not just to ask for it. - Staying curious, listening well, and being genuinely present. You never know when a conversation over coffee will lead to a collaboration. Or when a kind word you offered months ago will make someone think of you for a dream opportunity. The best time to build relationships was yesterday. The next best time is today. Keep showing up. Keep giving. Keep connecting. Because when you lead with authenticity and generosity, your network becomes your net worth personally and professionally. #Networking #RelationshipBuilding #Leadership #CareerAdvice #AuthenticConnections #CommunityOverCompetition

“𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫.” A phrase I hear all too often from brilliant professionals who’ve spent their careers building someone else’s dream... They’ve climbed ladders, delivered results, and poured everything into the success of their employers. But when the unexpected happens—layoffs, burnout, or a pivot—they find themselves starting from scratch with their own personal brand. Let me be clear, 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲—𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐭. And no, it’s not disloyal to build it while you’re employed. In fact, it’s the smartest thing you can do for your career. Here’s why: •𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫. Even the most secure roles can change in a heartbeat. •𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞. It opens doors to opportunities—whether you’re ready for them now or later. •𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. No one can take away the relationships, skills, and reputation you build for yourself. So how do you start? 1️⃣ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. → Schedule coffee chats (even virtually). → Attend industry events, conferences, or webinars. → Reach out to people you admire—most are willing to connect if you ask. 2️⃣ 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐥𝐲. → Write posts about your expertise or lessons learned. → Host webinars, speak on panels, or guest on podcasts. → Collaborate with peers or mentor someone in your field. 3️⃣ 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲. → Your reputation is your brand. → Treat your current role like your portfolio—show up, stand out, and exceed expectations. 𝑰𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 10 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔. Wouldn’t that feel better than wondering, “What if?” The time to start is now. Not when the layoff happens. Not when you’re forced to freelance. Not “someday.” 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕. 𝑵𝒐𝒘. Are you building your personal brand, or waiting for the perfect moment? Let’s talk about it. If not here, shoot me a DM, sharing my knowledge is what I do to help others!