Keeping in touch and following up with contacts takes a lot of work and organization, but the fruits of the labor can be sweet. I followed up with a former student of mine who is the recruiting coordinator for the Virginia Tech Development office. She commented that the organization has numerous job openings (click to view) – all of which are pretty good paying jobs. In the NETWORKING STRATEGIES GUIDE, we offer several creative ways to keep in touch.

• Handwritten notes
• Send topical press clippings
• Invite new contacts to attend your group meetings
• Plan ahead with traveling to schedule a meeting
• Call when their alma mater wins the big game

Find creative ways to follow up with your contacts and see if they can uncover some professional opportunities.