t respond in any way to your attempts at communication. Suddenly, Person A needs a job and he/she illicit your help.

This is a tough call. Will you help him/her?

Consider these points when making your decision:

Person A gets back to you only when her/she needs something. If you help person A is he/she likely to fall of the face of the earth afterwards? Will person A reciprocate wh

Let’s talk about your network. Whether you know it or not you have several different types of networks: business, family, friends, community, acquaintances and so on. So, what are you doing to build and/or maintain the relationships in those networks? Let’s face it. Not all relationships require the same strategy or plan for maintenance. It is, however, important to understand that more positive results come from networking in a professional manner. It is very important to treat your network with kid gloves. Continued contact proves to maintain and cultivate the relationship no matter how it evolves.

There may be people you don't even who know have the power to influence the outcome of a particular situation you’re in. Worse yet, you may never ever know it even after having lived through it. Sometimes it’s just a matter of who knows you or whom you have met. It may depend on whom your family knows, whom your cleaning lady knows, or on whom your child's teacher knows.

See the associations? Get the point? We are all connected and some say that it only takes six "connections" to come full circle back to you. Keep that in mind as you cultivate your network. Not only are the people that you come in contact in your network but they also have ancillary connections to your network.

Consider this example:
Person A ? This person knows you fairly well. You have been at events together and an informal bond of friendship established. You communicate on a sporadic and irregular basis about work issues. Person A falls of the face of the earth for six months and does not respond in any way to your attempts at communication. Suddenly, Person A needs a job and he/she illicit your help.

This is a tough call. Will you help him/her?

Consider these points when making your decision:

Person A gets back to you only when her/she needs something. If you help person A is he/she likely to fall of the face of the earth afterwards? Will person A reciprocate wh

sults come from networking in a professional manner. It is very important to treat your network with kid gloves. Continued contact proves to maintain and cultivate the relationship no matter how it evolves.

There may be people you don't even who know have the power to influence the outcome of a particular situation you’re in. Worse yet, you may never ever know it even after having lived through it. Sometimes it’s just a matter of who knows you or whom you have met. It may depend on whom your family knows, whom your cleaning lady knows, or on whom your child's teacher knows.

See the associations? Get the point? We are all connected and some say that it only takes six "connections" to come full circle back to you. Keep that in mind as you cultivate your network. Not only are the people that you come in contact in your network but they also have ancillary connections to your network.

Consider this example:
Person A ? This person knows you fairly well. You have been at events together and an informal bond of friendship established. You communicate on a sporadic and irregular basis about work issues. Person A falls of the face of the earth for six months and does not respond in any way to your attempts at communication. Suddenly, Person A needs a job and he/she illicit your help.

This is a tough call. Will you help him/her?

Consider these points when making your decision:

Person A gets back to you only when her/she needs something. If you help person A is he/she likely to fall of the face of the earth afterwards? Will person A reciprocate wh

gh it. Sometimes it’s just a matter of who knows you or whom you have met. It may depend on whom your family knows, whom your cleaning lady knows, or on whom your child's teacher knows.

See the associations? Get the point? We are all connected and some say that it only takes six "connections" to come full circle back to you. Keep that in mind as you cultivate your network. Not only are the people that you come in contact in your network but they also have ancillary connections to your network.

Consider this example:
Person A ? This person knows you fairly well. You have been at events together and an informal bond of friendship established. You communicate on a sporadic and irregular basis about work issues. Person A falls of the face of the earth for six months and does not respond in any way to your attempts at communication. Suddenly, Person A needs a job and he/she illicit your help.

This is a tough call. Will you help him/her?

Consider these points when making your decision:

Person A gets back to you only when her/she needs something. If you help person A is he/she likely to fall of the face of the earth afterwards? Will person A reciprocate wh

ople that you come in contact in your network but they also have ancillary connections to your network.

Consider this example:
Person A ? This person knows you fairly well. You have been at events together and an informal bond of friendship established. You communicate on a sporadic and irregular basis about work issues. Person A falls of the face of the earth for six months and does not respond in any way to your attempts at communication. Suddenly, Person A needs a job and he/she illicit your help.

This is a tough call. Will you help him/her?

Consider these points when making your decision:

Person A gets back to you only when her/she needs something. If you help person A is he/she likely to fall of the face of the earth afterwards? Will person A reciprocate wh

t respond in any way to your attempts at communication. Suddenly, Person A needs a job and he/she illicit your help.

This is a tough call. Will you help him/her?

Consider these points when making your decision:

Person A gets back to you only when her/she needs something. If you help person A is he/she likely to fall of the face of the earth afterwards? Will person A reciprocate when you need assistance? Is it worth your time and energy to help person A? Remember, everyone has a limited amount of time and resources. You need to continually assess how to maintain your relationships without monopolizing your time.

Person B - You know this person in a business sense as well. Person B sends you periodic notes and picks up the phone to call you and answers when you contact her. This person does communicate, even if it’s just a quick email. Would you help this person? Consider these points in making your decision. Person B genuinely makes an effort to stay in touch. Person B would most likely really appreciate your efforts and remember it when he/she is in a position to do you a favor.

Sound like hardball? Remember it’s your time and you have to make the best use of it. If Person A were no longer in your life would you miss him/her, need his/her assistance in the future? Could he/she influence your career in some way? You be the judge.

The safest path is to be honest and tell the person how you feel (in a nice way, of course). I’m sorry I can’t help you with your job search. If you had stayed in touch I would be better prepared to help? If they get their feelings hurt, too bad. You are operating with professionalism.

The 6 degrees of separation:
Lets consider A & B again. A or B gets a new job. It’s not all that uncommon for an acquaintance to turn up within your circle of business or become a person of influence. Small world syndrome! What's in it for you? Would you want to work for them? Could you have them serve as a referen