This document provides 3 simple ways to keep a professional network healthy: 1. Maintain contact with contacts by keeping in touch occasionally through thank you's, updates, or linking on LinkedIn. 2. Pay it forward by providing assistance like referrals, opportunities, or advice to others in the network. 3. Always be genuine by having a genuine interest in each contact and their accomplishments, as you hope they do for you. Quality of connections is more important than quantity.

1. 3 simple ways
to keep your network healthy

2. You’ve worked hard to establish a network of
professional and social contacts. Now that you have
these relationships in place, what can you do to get
the most out of them and maintain a competitive
professional edge?
Read on for 3 simple ways
to keep your network healthy.

3. It’s easier to
maintain your
current network
than it is to create
a new one.
1.
Maintain
contact

4. It is important to actively seek out ways to keep in touch
with your contacts every now and again. A simple thank
you, an ‘I thought this might interest you’, or an update of
a major milestone in your life like getting a new job, are
all possibilities.
You can also connect with your contacts on LinkedIn
to keep up to date with their career achievements or to
like their updates and the articles they share (but only if
you genuinely do like what they’ve written). LinkedIn can
be a great way to help you maintain your network.

5. Networking is a two-
way street, so seek
out opportunities to
support your contacts.
2.
Pay it
forward

6. Be prepared to provide assistance to others in your
network. Referring contacts, passing on opportunities that
you’re aware of and offering advice when it’s requested
are all great ways to pay it forward.
Once you get the hang of LinkedIn, you can also
endorse the skills and recommend the talents of those in
your networks.

7. 3.
Always
be
genuine
While a long list of
contacts can seem
impressive, don’t
lose sight of the
individuals who make
up your network.

8. Your professional network is made up of family, friends,
classmates, work colleagues and others you have met
along the way.
The easiest way to maintain your network is to have a
genuine interest in the value of each of these people and
their accomplishments, just as you hope they have an
interest in yours.
Remember, a strong network is about quality, not
quantity, so maintain a genuine interest in the success and
progression of those in your network.

9. The more you put into
maintaining your network,
the more you will get out of it.
A strong, active network of contacts can help you to
maintain a competitive professional edge as well as
providing a valuable source of support and guidance
in your career.

10. To keep your
network healthy,
1. Maintain contact
2. Pay it forward
3. Always be genuine

11. Once you know how to manage your network and
maintain your existing relationships, it’s time to think
about opportunities to add to your professional
network…

12. CRICOS: QLD00244B NSW02225M TEQSA: PRV12081 29.3.9 11.2016 Graphics © Shutterstock.com
social.usq.edu.au
To help you make
strong, genuine
connections whenever
the opportunity arises,
check out the ‘Top 10
networking ideas’ on
USQ Social Hub.