Through the Eyes of a Professional-III

Name: Robert M. Long

Occupation: Attorney-Public Utility Commission of Texas Legal Division

Member of Professional Networking Site: No


1. From your own experiences can you please tell me about a specific instance or general stage in your career where you found networking to be either beneficial or detrimental to you getting a job or promotion?

I am an attorney. When in private practice in law it’s not so much about getting a job or a promotion, but rather getting clients and cases. I was contacted to be a local counsel by a Washington law firm in a big national case because people I had worked with years before recommended me. Much of legal referral work is based upon personal relationships one has developed and maintained through networking. This is the way you get most of your new business.

2. To what degree do you feel building a network is important for your career field in comparison to other careers?

Networking is very important for developing business. Many other fields use advertising and other methods to develop business, but the legal profession relies on networking. This is because the profession has restrictions on advertising as a part of its code of ethical conduct.

3. Do you feel that online networking is becoming more important than face-to-face networking? Why or why not?

I really don’t know because I am older and simply don’t use on-line networking.

4. From your own experience and the experience of friends and/or colleagues which form of networking provides job-seekers with the best opportunity to market themselves?

I believe the best form of networking is face-to-face. That’s just based upon my experience.

5. What advice would you give soon-to-be college graduates entering the professional world regarding networking?

Keep it up. It’s the contacts you make when you don’t need a job or business that pay off later. If you wait until you need something it is pretty apparent why you are networking at that time. Stay in contact with your networks even when nothing is being sought.