After months of looking, I finally landed a decnt job! Now, all of my friends say the same thing: "KEEP LOOKING"! Now, I realize that these are uncertain times, and that it pays to always keep an eye out for a beter situation. But how exactly do you network whilst working full time? Is it ethical to use the companie’s phone, time. etc., to look for another job?
Finally, how many of you are continually networking?
I’m of the opinion that you should spend a certain amount of time looking (in case things should go bad); but how much is enough?
In the short term your energy will be better spent knuckling down and making a good impression in your new job (congrats, btw 
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Iit’s always worth keeping an eye on the industry and maintaining network contacts - it’s just your priority now is to make the best start possible at your new firm; don’t let networking distract you but keep it on the back-burner.
There is also the possibility that you may not work out at your new job. This may have nothing to do with your abilities or the amount of effort you make. Some folks are just impossible to work for. So do keep networking, but the advice about putting your primary focus on succeeding on the job is sound.
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I think this will do better in IMHO.
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I wouldn’t necessarily say “keep looking” but having contacts is honestly the best way to land a job. So it’s always good to keep meeting people who are in your industry or your field of expertise. Not necesarily through job interviews, but if you have an industry group or professional group you can join, that’s a great way to network that probably won’t take up much time.
Of course, having said that, I don’t practice what I preach.
Absolutely keep networking. Although, as e-logic noted, you should be focusing primarily on your job, keeping up relationships with your contacts is very important as well. Not only will you have ties to other companies to fall back on if this doesn’t work; you’ll also have a better grasp of what’s going on in your field in your area. So when things relax a little and you get more settled in to your new job, meet a contact for lunch or go to a networking event. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
P.S. Sorry for the extra post, but I just thought of something else. Depending upon your field, many employers think of their employees’ relationships as assets. For example, say your boss wants to talk to x company about the possibility of a partnership or affiliation but doesn’t know anyone there, so he or she doesn’t really know who to talk to or how to approach them. You say, “Actually, I know their IT manager. She’s really nice, and very approachable. Would you like me to introduce you?” Your boss says, “That would be fabulous! Thanks.” Even if said meeting doesn’t go so well, the fact that you clearly know people from other companies could make you more valuable to your current company. Even better, if said meeting goes well and your company makes a lot of money from a partnership or affiliation, your boss would rightly consider you partly responsible for pointing him or her in the right direction and getting your company on a good footing with the other.
Networking is not looking for another job. Unless you actually plan to leave, I think looking for a job is bad, since it gets you thinking in the short term. Networking is good. You broaden your horizons, you can learn what other people are doing, and I think you can do your job better if you don’t mind getting fired.
Sometimes I think half my benefit to my company is that I can pick up the phone and call anyone who is anyone in my field. My father taught me that it is good to always have lots of people owing you favors, and I’ve found that to be good advice.
Yes, keep networking. I’m big on loyalty but sometimes things just don’t pan out, and it’s easier to stay on your feet if you don’t have to start all over again without contacts.
I never stop networking. I am self-employed however. I feel that it’s important to always network. However, don’t go with a new job agenda behind your networking. Now that you are comfortable in your job, focus on making lasting long term relationships with people that you like who you know will point you in the right direction in the future. You never know when these might turn into vendor relationships for your current company, or any number of other useful opportunities. Opportunities are unveiled as your network expands, so you never know where you can go unless you expand that network. It’s a good idea to have a support network, but you don’t need to go out looking for a backup job. If you look for a backup job you’ll find yourself in a sticky situation where you have to burn the new job or the old job, because when going for a job you kind of have to jump for it if you want it, it’s not going to wait around for you. Keep networking is sound advice, but do it for different reasons than when you were unemployed. Think longer term in your networking than you might have while you were in need of a job.
Erek