Building your network with vendors.

My friend Chris and I were talking over Christmas break about building your network. We know (or should know) that having a good network is something you want in place before you need it. That is, if you're currently employed, growing your network is an imperative NOW.

You should be doing this while at work. With your workplace colleagues? Of course; that will happen naturally. But Chris realized the people in the workplace who are probably most beneficial to build a relationship with are the sales people from other companies. In other words, your vendors.

After all, the vendor sales or field reps probably have (or at least had) other accounts. They are the bees that cross-pollinate between fields. Vendors often know many people up and down the chain at other companies in your industry. Establish a good relationship with them, and when it comes time to make a job transition, they probably have excellent inside connections and can make introductions for you.