Peer Networks at Different Career Levels: How do you find them, how do they help?

摘要

The professional network is regularly lauded for its role in career advancement. Individuals on the market are often bombarded with anecdotes and articles citing the necessity of networking to land a job. Despite its importance, the idea of growing and receiving aid from their network remains a daunting task for many. Here, we take a deeper look at how professionals at different career stages developed their own peer networks and explore the ways that they utilize their connections. Early in your career, forming and maintaining a peer network can seem overwhelming, but it is a worthwhile undertaking. Establishing a strong network can be uncomfortable for early career professionals because of the perception that they lack the expertise to serve as a reciprocal partner. Unfortunately, this unbalance leaves those early in their careers-the individuals who benefit the most from a supportive network-uncomfortable in engaging others to form their network.