The people I think I should network with are friends of my current boss.

9 Comments

1. Maegan, Nike Sales Rep & Career CoachFebruary 10,2022 at 3:42PM UTC

   Reach out and say just that, you are interested in what they do and their career path. You don't have to tell them right off the bat you are job hunting! Start creating those relationships, let them know the direction/next step you see for yourself, and see if they have anyone they would recommend you connect with !

2. Jill W. LiuFebruary 10,2022 at 6:20PM UTC

   Just what I was thinking

3. Jill W. LiuFebruary 10,2022 at 6:28PM UTC

   To buttress @Maegan Miller, I think to keep it from them would be better as everyone has at least one best friend/confidante they share and guess that’s how the news would go around to get to your boss

4. Sarah HernandezFebruary 11,2022 at 4:04PM UTC

   Not sure these ideas would work for you, but here are some that I have tried in the past that worked for me.

   When meeting with your boss, take time to mention your professional development and that you are looking for certain opportunities. Either they will make those happen for you in your current role, or they will understand that you are looking.

   You could ask your boss to make an introduction for you. Bring your boss into the conversation and tell them you are interested in certain opportunities and you noticed Person A and Person B are in his network.

5. AnonymousFebruary 12,2022 at 1:35PM UTC

   You should be building your network BEFORE you start job hunting.
   Network building is a full time part of the career, not just when you want to make a move.
   No one wants to be contacted only for who they know only when they can be useful. With that in mind, ask them for an informational interview. You’d like to learn more about what they do, and about the industry they work in, from a different perspective than where you are now.

6. AnonymousFebruary 12,2022 at 2:20PM UTC

   Your boss will absolutely find out. The boss’s friends are going to be loyal to him/her, not you. You never know how a manager will react, typically not favorable. Find other networking channels.

7. AprilFebruary 12,2022 at 4:07PM UTC

   I recommend reconsidering why your bosses friends are the best choice. You would put them and yourself at reputational risk when trying to keep “ it” a secret. Networking is more about transparency than secrets. I can not see a good outcome with this path.

8. Tami HolzmanFebruary 12,2022 at 5:12PM UTC

   What do you mean by networking? If it's just making professional connections for an opportunity down the road, there is no harm. If you're approaching them about specific job opportunities now, that's a different story.

   Does your boss support your growth in your current job or in general? What is the nature of these friendships? If these are just professional acquaintances, they might not feel inclined to tell your boss anything.

   Finally, how badly do you want out of your current job? If it's already pretty unbearable, then go for it. If you have a good relationship with your boss, you might consider talking to them about your career development. They might be supportive of helping you move on.

9. Kathleen Thornton LintaFebruary 13,2022 at 12:50AM UTC

   I would be clear with yourself on why you wish to network. If it is to leave your job for another position, friends of your boss are not appropriate network targets because your boss WILL invariably find out. Good luck!