Mapping Your Professional Network (with PDF Worksheet)

The following post explores the topic of Mapping Your Professional Network (with PDF Worksheet).

It’s not what you know – it’s who you know. The “six degrees of separation” theory suggests that everyone on the planet is connected through a chain of six or fewer acquaintances.

Read: Understanding the Hidden Job Market

Related: Tips for Growing Your Professional Network

Explore: Identifying Your Career Values (with PDF Workbook)

While it might sound like an abstract idea, it underscores a powerful truth about networking: the people you know have the potential to unlock doors you thought were out of reach.

Here’s what you need to know.

Overview

Some of the most valuable people in your network may not be the ones you think of first.

Whether you’re looking for a job, making a career change, or exploring a new venture, networking remains one of the most effective ways to uncover opportunities. The challenge is that many people only think about their closest friends, former bosses, and current coworkers when considering who they know.

In reality, your network is often much larger than you realize. Former colleagues, classmates, clients, vendors, neighbors, volunteer contacts, professional association members, and others you’ve met throughout your life may all have valuable information, advice, introductions, or opportunities to share. Taking the time to map your network can help uncover connections that might otherwise remain hidden.

Personal Contacts

Personal contacts are typically built on trust and familiarity.

Examples of personal contacts may include friends, family members, parents of your children’s friends, parents of your friends, relatives of close friends, neighbors, members of social clubs, teammates from recreational sports leagues, or people you regularly interact with at religious or community gatherings.

Business Contacts

Business contacts are typically built on interactions through work.

Examples of business contacts include current and former coworkers, supervisors, consultants, vendors, suppliers, retirees, industry peers, and clients. Additionally, people you meet at professional events such as seminars, conferences, workshops, or job fairs can become members of your network.

Third Party Contacts

Third party contacts are typically built on professional expertise and the exchange of services.

Examples of third party contacts may include doctors, lawyers, real estate brokers, financial advisors, bankers and brokers, insurance agents, travel agents, angel investors, more.

Educational Contacts

Educational contacts are typically built on shared experiences and common academic backgrounds.

Examples of educational contacts may include elementary, middle, and high school friends and teachers, college classmates and friends, alumni association members, graduate school peers, and even university career-placement office staff. Former professors and advisors are also potentially valuable connections.

Community Contacts

Community contacts are typically built on shared activities and mutual involvement in civic or social groups.

Examples of community contacts may include civic and political leaders, librarians, clergy or ministers, members of the Chambers of Commerce, community group members (like Kiwanis, Rotary, or Scouts), people you meet through volunteer work, and even fellow health club members.

In Conclusion

In conclusion, I hope you find this article helpful for tips on Mapping Your Professional Network. As a special bonus, I’ve included the “Who Do You Know?” brainstorming worksheet for download (see below).

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Download the ‘Who Do You Know?’ Worksheet (PDF)