You've heard that old adage, "It's not what you know, but who you know." But what if you don't know anybody, then what?

你應該聽過那句諺語，“重要的不是你知道什么，而是你認識誰。”但是如果你誰都不認識怎么辦呢？

First off, let's back up. Why do you need a network? A network can serve many purposes: It can serve as a support group, a source of information, a source of job leads, and as a source of actual business. Your network is your family, your expert sources, your connections to potential employers, and the people with whom you do business。

首先，讓我們后退一步想想，你為什么需要社交關系網？其原因是社交關系網可以擔當很多作用：它也許是支持團，也可能是信息源，或引領工作的來源，或生意來源。你的社交關系網是你的家庭，你專業知識的來源，你與潛在上司的連接渠道，也是你與商業伙伴的溝通渠道。

Now, you're assuming you don't know anyone professional. Are you sure about that? Even if you're new to the working world, you already know many people who can help you get a good start。

現在的你認為自己并不認識任何專業人士。真的是這樣嗎？即使你在業界是個新人，你也已經認識了不少可以幫助你有個好的開端的人了。

Look at People You Know 看看你認識的人

Your parents and relatives 你的父母和親戚

They might not be able to help you directly (nepotism is a terrible way to start a career)， but they might know people who can help you. Ask for introductions。

他們也許不能直接幫你(由裙帶關系開始的事業是個大災難)，但是他們也許認識可以幫你的人。讓他們為你引薦。

Your neighbors 你的鄰居

You've grown up next to these people for years, and that kindly Mr. Rogers down the street could help you get into television if you talk to him。

這些年來，他們是看著你長大的，所以如果你開口的話，也許街上和藹可親的羅格先生可以引薦你進電臺工作。

Your teachers and professors 你的老師和教授

Educators get besieged by requests for recommendations, but if you have a good relationship with any of them, build upon it. Also, think about guest speakers or lecturers you may have heard while you were in school. Write them and see if they write back。

很多人都會找老師推薦工作，如果你和老師的關系好的話，就可以指望下他們。另外，也可以給你在學校聽他們講課的講師和特邀發言者寫信，看他們是否回函。

Old bosses from part-time jobs 以前兼職工作的上司

If you worked a dead-end job in high-school or college, you may be surprised to find out how and where your old boss has moved on. Keep in touch。

你高中或者大學做兼職的那家公司當時倒閉了，可你也許會驚奇的發現你的老上司已經奇跡般的東山再起了。所以和他要保持聯系。

The people you interview with 曾經面試過你的人

Even if you don't get the job， keep in touch. They might think of you later。

即使你當時沒得到工作，也要和他們保持聯系，說不定哪天他們就會想起你來。

Your friends getting into the job market 你已經參加工作的朋友

Now is the time to get in touch and turn those friendships into a professional network. As they climb up the ladder, you'll both find opportunities to help each other。

現在是時候聯系下了，將以前的友誼發展為專業的社交關系。當他們成為你社交網中的一部分時，你們雙方都會發現這對彼此來說都是個很好的機會。

Generating Professional Contacts 創造社交關系

You can also generate new professional contacts online and in your community. If you read about someone who sounds interesting, reach out and make contact. Show that you've got a good mind and a good personality. You never know where that will go。

你也可以在線上或者團體內發展新的社交關系。一旦你得知誰有興趣的話，就馬上和他們聯系。要向他們展示你良好的心態和性格，因為你永遠不知道它們會有什么影響。

The real work begins once you get started in the job force. The best professional contacts will probably be developed in the context of your job. Maintain good records of who you meet, the context in which you met them, and what they do. Find reasons to keep in touch with the best of them. Join a professional social networking site like LinkedIn to help maintain your network, and maybe even to show it off。

一旦你加入一個工作團隊后真正的工作就開始了。最好的社交關系是在工作領域內發展起來的。將你見過的人，與他們見面的事情，以及他們的職業做成一份記錄保存下來。并找到你和他們保持聯系的最佳理由。同時，加入專業社交網站也可以維持你的社交圈，也許你還可以用來炫耀下。

Throughout your professional life, your network will serve different purposes. It will also change over time -- as it builds up, becomes refined, and sometimes breaks down. But it likely will be the lifeblood of your career。

在你整個職業生涯中，你的社交關系網將會起到不同的作用。當然，隨著時間的推移，它也會有所改變，在其建立之后，也許會變得更好，也許會破裂。但不管怎樣，它可能將是你整個事業的命脈

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