The holidays are a time for celebrations with friends and family. These events can also serve as a terrific opportunity to network and develop new contacts to enhance one’s career.
 
In these uncertain times, companies are as likely to downsize employees as they are to award a holiday bonus. You always need to be prepared for any unforeseen situations and never feel too secure in your job.  This is why it's important to expand your social and career networks.

A lot of the time who you know can be just as important as what you know. The majority of working professionals get their jobs through a contact or their network. 

Holiday parties

Holiday parties can provide you with the perfect opportunity to expand your network. Family and friends often provide valuable work leads that can advance your career. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of these opportunities to meet and network with these individuals. When attending local industry events and holiday parties, it’s a good idea to dress well, bring business cards and present yourself in a professional, yet social manor. You never know who you might meet or who may end up becoming a key business contact or influential connection.
 
Easy ways to get connected
 
The easiest way to start networking is by using a tool you’re using this very minute. Your computer and the Internet offer new and unlimited opportunities to connect with old colleagues, classmates, industry professionals and potential employers. It’s also a useful tool to research potential job openings.
 
Most military personnel already know first-hand that mastering advanced technology can literally save a Soldier's life. Being able to master the new technology of career and social networks can also help you control your fate … at work.
 
Here are some of the more popular career and social networking sites worth exploring: 
 
1. Linked-In is a networking tool which provides access to a relationship-powered job network that allows professionals to search job listings and discover inside connections to hiring managers, HR professionals and recruiters. 
 
 
2. Military.com allows you to search for networking contacts by keyword, occupation, company, school or location. You can also keep track of career networking contacts.  
 
3. Vault Message Boards are discussion forums on career topics, industries and companies. This is also a helpful source to find career and company information.
 
Other popular social networking sites like MySpace, FaceBook and Friendster can help you meet new friends, connect with old ones or find people with similar interests. These sites can help you enlarge your circle of friends and acquaintances. New social contacts might someday lead to future job referrals.  However, you’ll be well served to remember that your personal profile and involvement in Internet forums becomes committed to public record. Be very careful about what opinions, personal information or photographs you post in your profile. You never know who might be “Googling” you in the future to conduct a background check as a potential job candidate. Just like it would be ill-advised to act inappropriate at a holiday office party, it could be potentially even more damaging to your long-term career prospects to post something inappropriate on a social networking website.

However you plan on celebrating the holidays this year, make it your New Years resolution to start expanding your career network. Holiday parties and online networks are just two easy ways to begin this fun and exciting venture. Season Greetings and happy networking.