I have a great story related to the value of networking for your career.
Let’s go back to 2005. I am having a first lunch with an executive to attempt to obtain some future search work with her.
Over the years we lost touch with each other. My bad.
2018 rolls in and I have a perfect VP opportunity for this person that I met in 2005. We make contact and she interviews and is offered and accepts the position. I am sure she will be a perfect technical and culture fit.
Lesson learned: never discount the value of networking. You never know when it will payoff. This example took 13 years to develop but better late than never.