Getting comfortable in a role can be a great thing. You get to understand the job and all of the intricacies that come with it. Your day-to-day is routine and you know where you’re supposed to be.

After a while, promotions and more responsibility might start coming into conversation from the higher-ups. They wonder if you can handle it all?

An alternative, and often more common is that you still work hard, but the role doesn’t excite you anymore. You start to look beyond your company for new roles and advancement, but where to begin?

For both situations, one of the best things to do, is something you should have been doing all along.

Networking. Not just any networking – but adding to your specific career-based online circles using LinkedIn and even Twitter. Keep your resume and online profile up to date. Recruiters are always looking for new talent to put on their books and find someone that the other agencies haven’t approached for an amazing new role which will see you as a great fit, and earn them a healthy commission.

Both of these social networks are hubs of activity and industry chat. If you know what you’re talking about, add to the conversation. Connect with people, if they’re in your city, invite them for coffee. If you can get to some industry networking events, go and mingle. The chances are that the people you’re talking to will remember you, or better yet, may already know of your company and if they’re senior, just might know your boss!

Don’t get left behind. Everyday I connect with people in a similar role as me, on LinkedIn. I love the experience of chatting with people outside my company who are dealing with the same challenges. I learn so much and am able to bring it back to the office, refreshed with a couple of new thought-starters for Monday’s meeting.

So go, get back on LinkedIn and look for people in your area. Do a search for your job title and see which other companies pop up. Connect and see if they’ll let you buy them a coffee.

In fact, if you’re in Vancouver, BC – connect with me, get in touch and let’s swap ideas.