Ways to expand your professional network
By Ken Pelczarski, Contributing Editor | TLT Career Coach May 2026
Follow these two categories on how to grow your networking contacts.
Are you satisfied with the number of contacts in your professional network? If yes, that is a good thing, and you have probably done great work on building your network. However, you never want to be satisfied to the point where you stop working on it. Even as you progress later into your career, it is important to continue building your network.
I would like to emphasize that a professional network can never be too large, and that there should always be focus on network expansion. If you are not consistent in networking, the number of contacts in your network may decrease over time due to people retiring, leaving the industry or having new unknown contact information.
A successful professional networking relationship is one that is characterized by two individuals who are willing to help and support each other in career-related matters when needed. A networking relationship is not a formal arrangement but is an understanding between two individuals that they may call on the other person for help at any time.
Listed below are some areas in which networking contacts can potentially help you (and vice versa) in career-related matters:
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advice on your career path
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searching for a new position
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input on compensation in your field
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providing ideas for a new research project
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dealing with a difficult boss
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handling a problem with a subordinate
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looking for a committee volunteer
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finding a speaker for an upcoming event
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providing information about a specific company
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recommending a new vendor
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finding a suitable candidate for a job opening
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becoming a professional reference for you
The many ways to expand your network can generally be divided into two categories:
1. reaching out directly to industry professionals to discuss a networking relationship
2. placing yourself in environments where new network contacts can be explored
Reaching out directly
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During a job search. Perhaps the main source of job leads when you are searching for a new career opportunity is the contacts in your network. Since you will be spending a lot of time networking when you are actively job searching, this is an excellent time to reach out directly to new contacts who can become part of your professional network.
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Inviting others to connect on LinkedIn. LinkedIn has been the premier social media site for business professionals for many years. Whether you are job searching or not, you will see career benefits by staying on top of who holds key positions with employers in your field. Reach out directly with invitations to connect with those who you think can help with a job search or other career-related matters. You will increase your chances of receiving a response by writing a short message describing the purpose of reaching out.
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Messaging thought leaders on LinkedIn. Adding thought leaders to your professional network should greatly benefit your career. Search regularly on LinkedIn for individuals who are active in the industry through publishing, presenting, volunteering and leadership. These individuals are generally well-connected and highly respected and are more likely to be able to assist you with career-related matters. Reach out to these professionals through a LinkedIn InMail message or a LinkedIn invitation and let them know why you are reaching out.
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Talking with co-workers. Co-workers are individuals you are probably in touch with regularly. Most co-workers will naturally be good network contacts because they know your skill set and may also understand what you are going through with your mutual employer. Reach out to select trustworthy co-workers and let them know you would like to develop a closer relationship in which you can help each other with career-related matters.
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Reaching out to industry colleagues. Industry colleagues are professionals who work in your field and may even work for a competitor. These individuals should have a decent understanding of your work and may be able to help you with a job search or issues you have with your current employer. Reach out to colleagues about whom you have heard good things, and who you deem trustworthy. Express the desire for mutual confidentiality and developing a relationship in which you can consult each other on job-related matters and industry activities.
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Getting in touch with current contacts in your network. Your existing professional network can potentially help you greatly in expanding your network. Reach out to individuals with whom you have a close relationship and inform them of the help and support that you desire. Ask if they can refer other industry professionals who can help with career-related matters. Express that you would sincerely appreciate it if they could communicate directly with these referrals to recommend you.
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Speaking with family members and friends. Do not dismiss the idea of family and friends helping with career-related matters. You may be surprised to hear that some of them understand your career work and may even work in a similar field. It should be easy to discuss job searches or other career issues with close family members and friends. Be sure to strike up career-related conversations because these individuals are usually willing to help in any way they can.
Placing yourself in networking environments
• Attending a conference. An annual conference is perhaps the best venue for expanding your professional network. The STLE Annual Meeting typically has 1,200-1,500 meeting registrants where you will likely meet many new contacts in your field. Exchange business cards with select contacts and state your desire to establish a continuing business relationship in which you can help each other with career-related matters. Mention current issues for which you could use assistance. Attend technical sessions where you can meet individuals with like interests and potentially meet the presenter. For more information, visit www.stle.org/annualmeeting.
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Attending a local industry meeting. On a smaller scale than annual conferences, local technical meetings through STLE Local Sections offer the same kind of opportunities to meet and develop relationships with new contacts. You may only meet one or two individuals to add to your network, but a local meeting is usually an excellent venue to spend time getting to know a person. If the meeting involves a technical presentation, attempt to meet the speaker either before or after the talk.
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Giving a presentation. It follows that you will meet numerous new contacts with the more presentations you give. Multiple attendees will likely want to talk with you before and after your presentation. Take this opportunity to evaluate how closely their background and interests align with yours. Be sure to exchange contact information and make it clear to select individuals that you would like to add to your professional network.
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Writing an article. Writing articles to be published in your field will give you added industry visibility. Industry professionals will likely reach out to you to discuss your article and to compliment you. I can testify to this result after having added many new contacts to my professional network over the past 15 years from writing my bimonthly TLT Career Coach column since 2012. When individuals do contact you about an article you have written, there are often reasons to keep in touch and help one another.
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ttending an industry social event. This is usually an informal venue in which individuals spend time talking about both business and personal matters. As a result, you may get to know a person better at a social event than at a business meeting. You can then make a well-informed decision about whom you would like to invite to your professional network. In a social setting, people are often more willing to offer help or ask for help on a career-related matter.
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Participating in group discussions on LinkedIn. As of March 1, 2026, the STLE Group on LinkedIn had 8,648 members in this networking forum. There are frequent discussions within this group on a wide variety of topics. Anybody in the STLE group can participate in these discussions and both learn and contribute. Many participants are lubricant industry thought leaders who enjoy learning as well as helping others by answering their questions. By participating in these discussions, you can select individuals with whom you want to follow up and arrange a personal networking relationship.
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Volunteering. Through being an STLE volunteer for over 30 years, I have met many new lubricant industry professionals, developed closer relationships with many individuals and added quite a few contacts to my network from these efforts. Fellow volunteers are usually great prospects for your professional network since the very nature of volunteers includes a willingness to help. For information on STLE volunteer opportunities, visit
www.stle.org/volunteer.
The larger you build a reliable professional network, the more you will have access to career assistance and information in areas such as job searching, industry events, technology news, presentation ideas, hiring a new employee and general career advice.
Ken Pelczarski is owner and founder of Pelichem Associates, a Chicago-based search firm established in 1985 and specializing in the lubricants industry. You can reach Ken at (630) 960-1940 or at pelichem@aol.com.