Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

President Wilson recognized the value of networking and the truth that behind every successful person there are other people.

What exactly is networking? Networking is establishing relationships and maintaining them. Basically it's staying in touch with contacts, friends you've made, and calling them when you need help or information, or helping them with information, referrals or mentoring when they call you.

Networking can help you in both your career and personal life. Your network can help you get whatever you need -- a promotion, a new job, a new client, a place to live, a mate. Ask people for referrals to doctors, florists, caterers, mechanics.

Like every business, the entertainment business is built on relationships. Those who advance quickly in a career recognize that working hard is only one requirement for success. What you do is important, who you know equally so, and who knows you is more critical still. Most jobs in the entertainment industry are never advertised. Often they are filled by a friend of a friend. Friends of friends is exactly what a network is. Help them and they will help you.

I recently got a message in a fortune cookie -- "A wise man knows everything. A shrewd one, everybody." That message is the essence of networking. No matter what you do in the entertainment arena, networking is key. Make networking a habit.

Don't be reticent about talking to other people. There is a lot of competition out there for jobs but often the person who gets the job is the one people know. The more people you know and network with, the better the chances you'll hear of job openings. Go to lunch with friends who work at places you'd like to work. Meet them at their office so you can check it out. Ask them about the company and projects that may be in the works. Keep aware of what your friends are doing and let them know how you are.

You've heard it before. To get a good job in the entertainment industry, you have to know someone. But that's okay, because you do know someone. And that someone knows someone. If you have enough "someones" in your network, you can get a good job.

Networking helps not only to hear about jobs but it can also help you get an advance notice of a layoff. If you network with people in different departments at your company, you can get a good idea if the company is doing well.