I bet you know that know networking is one of the most important things you can do in your career search. Did you also know that it is one of the things that people fear most? It's true, but it doesn't need to be that way.
You see, a network is simply "an extended group of people with similar interests or concerns who interact and remain in informal contact for mutual assistance or support." We're all networking all the time, even if we don't realize it, asking for referrals to a good restaurant, a hairdresser, or a school for our kids. Of course, networking has great implications for your career, whether you're looking for a job or not.