[vonmoltke]

> Later in your career, if you have kept connections alive, the job hunt should look like this

If you kept connections alive and actually have connections that move on to other companies. 95% of the connections I have made in 14 years are either retired or still at the companies they were at when I met them. How does this help me?

[mooreds]

Interesting! Not my experience, so hard to comment intelligibly. As if that is going to stop me, this is the internet.

I guess I would still go into your network and see if they have met anyone who has moved on. Adter all, it isn't the direct connection that you are looking for (though that is preferable), but the second layer connection.

Otherwise I think you are either in the position of following the author's advice or trying to expand your network by working with people in other ways (side projects, moonlighting, open source, volunteering). I know how unsavoury that choice is.

Since I can't definitively speak to your situation, let me talk about ways to avoid it.

- work in a consulting shop early in your career.

- seek big companies over small as your first or second job

- prefer job dense locations early in your career

- volunteer your time when you have cycles. Work an event, write some code, etc

I realize these are not all available to everyone, they are just guidelines that will expand your network.

[mooreds]

I forgot one of the best ways to expand your contact network: contracting. Find a company that can sell your hours and give them the 40-50% they will take. Make sure you add everyone you work with (clients, other contractors) to your network list (I prefer LinkedIn but excel will work).