Utilizing your professional network to the fullest
By Ken Pelczarski, Contributing Editor | TLT Career Coach July 2026
No matter the size, your professional network is a valuable resource for career development.
My last Career Coach column in the May 2026 TLT discussed ways you can expand your professional network. This article focuses on how to make the most of your network no matter how big or small.
First, let’s look at my five top recommendations for dealing effectively with your professional network.
1. Stay in touch.
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Stay in touch at least annually with closest contacts.
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Stay in touch at least annually with those you ask regularly for help.
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If you have a large network, attempt to connect with all contacts at least every two to three years.
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If you are having trouble locating someone in your network, try to find them via LinkedIn, Google or through other individuals in your network.
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Obtain multiple ways of connecting with your network, including via phone calls, text messages, e-mail and LinkedIn.
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Inform others of changes in your contact information.
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Inform others of changes in your employment.
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Ask others to keep you informed of changes in their contact information.
2. Introduce others to your contacts.
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Ask others what types of contacts are most beneficial to them (e.g., companies, professional field, executive level, types of positions held, academic versus industry, technical societies).
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Offer potentially valuable contacts to individuals within your network.
3. Ask to be introduced to others’ contacts.
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Inform your network up front about what types of contacts are most beneficial to you.
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Do not hesitate to ask others within your network to introduce you to new contacts who may be able to help with a current career issue or question.
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Thank others for all introductions, no matter the level of benefit you receive from the new connection.
4. Offer help to network contacts.
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Make it clear up front that you are always available to help with any issue or question that your contact may have.
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Make sure others know the types of issues with which you are most capable of helping.
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Reciprocation will increase your chances of receiving help from others when you need it.
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Go the extra mile to help individuals in your network. It will usually come back to you.
5. Request help from network contacts.
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If you are requesting help from a network contact that you have not helped in the past, emphasize your willingness to reciprocate at any time in the future.
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Be sure to reach out to as many network contacts as necessary if you have a critical issue or question.
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Network contacts should be able to jump start the resolution of a problem or help with an issue you could not have easily dealt with on your own.
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Thank all network contacts who spend time trying to help you.
Next, let’s look at areas listed below in which network contacts can potentially help you (and vice versa) in career-related matters.
Advice on choosing a career path
Request help
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Reach out to network contacts who have familiarity with your current and/or desired career path.
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Include family members and friends in your search for career advice (they know you well even though they may not have a strong understanding of your current career path).
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If you are considering a career change, be sure to talk with individuals who work in the field you are considering. They can likely inform you of the level of transition difficulty and success probability based upon your skill set, personality traits and current career path.
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Direct personal conversations involving questions and information exchange usually work best for career path questions.
Provide help
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Be a willing helper to your network contacts when asked for advice.
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Volunteer to give advice when you are aware that somebody is struggling in their career.
Searching for a new position
Request help
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Put the word out to many of your network contacts regarding a job search. This can be broadcast widely via e-mail or LinkedIn message.
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Make a request to talk personally to your closest contacts to obtain more in-depth assistance.
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Try to learn not only about actual open positions but also about companies that are expanding or are an excellent fit for your background and skill set.
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Make sure your contacts understand the types of positions you are targeting.
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Ask your established contacts for new connections who may be able to assist you.
Provide help
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If you learn that one of your contacts is looking for a new position, reach out to help even if help is not solicited.
Input on compensation in your field
Request help
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Reach out to the closest contacts in your field if you have questions about average compensation for your experience level and type of position.
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If you are a top performer, attempt to learn the 80th or 90th percentile of compensation in your field.
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Your network contacts will likely give you more comprehensive feedback if you are fully transparent about your current or most recent compensation package.
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If you have close and trusting relationships with coworkers in your network, you may want to compare each other’s compensation on a confidential basis.
Provide help
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Respond with assistance to network contacts who ask for information about average compensation.
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Ideally find the time to do some research regarding requests from your contacts.
Providing ideas for a research project
Request help
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Reach out to fellow researchers in your network if you have questions about how to a.) structure your research project, b.) gather the right information, c.) explain or publish your findings, d.) locate somebody to officially collaborate with or e.) select a topic for a new project.
Provide help
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Describe your main areas of knowledge and expertise while making it clear to researchers in your network that you are always willing to help with research projects.
Dealing with a difficult boss
Request help
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There are many kinds of difficult bosses, including micro-managers, know-it-alls, mavericks, credit hogs, non-communicators and saboteurs.
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If you are having minor issues with your boss, you may attempt to work things out directly or reach out casually to a few network contacts.
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If you are having major issues with your boss and even thinking about changing jobs because of it, reach out promptly to your closest and most reliable network contacts for possible remedies.
Provide help
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Offer help when you learn that a network contact is having serious issues with a boss, especially if you have had experience with a similar type of boss.
Handling a problem with a subordinate
Request help
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Individuals in your network who have experience with direct reports in a similar function are great candidates to offer solutions to problems you are having with a subordinate.
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Consider asking for assistance from network contacts who are experienced managers from within and outside your organization.
Provide help
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Inform your closest management contacts that they can consult with you at any time regarding issues with a subordinate.
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Let your contacts know what types of difficult bosses with which you have had success.
Looking for a committee volunteer
Request help
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If you are looking to find a committee volunteer, you can often recruit someone directly from your network.
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Talk with prospects who have proven to be willing volunteers.
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Speak also with potential new volunteers that you know possess the qualities to take on the volunteer role.
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Ideally talk with individuals in person or on the phone instead of via text message or e-mail for better results.
Provide help
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Inform current volunteers in your network of your willingness to volunteer for certain roles.
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Describe the amount of time you are willing to contribute.
Finding a speaker for an upcoming event
Request help
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Utilize your network to find experienced presenters on specific topics.
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Recruit your contacts directly or obtain referrals from experts on the topic of interest.
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Attempt to have direct conversations with speaker prospects to explain clearly the focus of the desired presentation.
Provide help
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Inform network contacts if you are actively interested in making presentations and let them know the topics with which you are comfortable.
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In addition, you may want to use LinkedIn to promote your interest and background in presenting.
Providing information about a specific company
Request help
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You may desire information about a specific company for reasons including learning about a competitor’s activities, researching a potential acquisition target and evaluating a possible employee relationship with this employer.
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Talk with network contacts who may have strong knowledge or inside information about a company from a current or past working relationship.
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You may be able to develop new business strategies from information you gather about a competitor’s growth strategies, profitability, acquisition plans and potential weaknesses.
Provide help
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Convey any inside information you have about a specific company for which a network contact is thinking about accepting a job offer.
Recommending a new vendor
Request help
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If your employer is evaluating new vendors for a chemical raw material, use your network to find the best vendors for product quality, service and price.
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Talk with contacts who have worked directly for these types of chemical suppliers or who know the market for these chemicals.
Provide help
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If you become aware of a network contact seeking a new vendor for chemical raw materials that are familiar to you, offer to share the knowledge you possess about these products.
Finding a suitable candidate for a job opening
Request help
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Networking is generally regarded as the best way to fill a position whether you do it yourself or utilize a recruiter to do your networking.
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Spend as much time as possible making contacts in your network via phone, text message and e-mail.
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Describe what you are looking for in a job candidate and ask about who may be searching for the same type of position.
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In addition, ask for recommendations of individuals with the right skill set but who may or may not be job searching.
Provide help
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Make it clear to individuals in your network that you are always willing to offer referrals for job openings.
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Offer to take the time to contact referrals directly whenever possible.
Becoming a professional reference
Request help
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References do not need to be current or past coworkers but can be fellow volunteers or individuals who can simply vouch for your character and industry reputation.
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If you are consistently in touch with your network, some contacts will get to know you well including your strengths, achievements, career goals and interests, leadership style, communication skills and personality.
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Work on strengthening network relationships to the point where you feel comfortable asking a few of your contacts to become professional references for you.
Provide help
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Do not necessarily wait to be asked but make it a policy to offer to become a professional reference for individuals in your network when you believe you know them well enough.
The most fruitful networking relationships are those in which two parties actively try to help each other on a regular basis. You have likely spent a great deal of time and energy throughout your career in building your professional network. To maximize benefit that you receive from your network, make it a point to think consistently about any help you can provide to others as well as help you can request from others.
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.