I promised you that on the “Better Off” podcast, we would tackle uncomfortable, and even controversial, money and investing issues. And high up on the list of anxieties is trying to land a new job or move up the food chain in your existing workplace. Of course, it’s all about who you know and having connections.

As someone who has been called a “natural networker,” I wholeheartedly cling to that concept. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of all jobs are found through networking. And because it’s a new year, a time when people often make changes, especially career changes, we thought it was a good idea to talk to networking expert Kelly Hoey. Kelly’s new book, Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World, has just been released and is perfect for anyone looking for networking and career advice.

We have all heard that networking can be an effective and important tool, but Kelly emphasizes creating meaningful connections, defining your goal and honing on those who can help you form a strategy for connecting. Some of her tips include:

1) Determine the most effective ways to connect with others so you don’t clutter your calendar with dead-end coffee dates and informational interviews

2) Synchronize networking efforts with your digital outreach

3) Turn “closed door” conversations into strong personal relationships and business opportunities

4) Eliminate FOMO by keeping your networking efforts focused We also talk about how the rules have been rewritten now that we live in a digital world where our lives are dominated by Facebook, Twitter and apps.

The book also includes a series of Q&As with some of the best networking experts in the business who share some invaluable advice based on their successes and failures.

There's also a Build Your Dream Network reading guide. You can access it here. 

“Better Off” is sponsored by Betterment.

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