Successful Networking

If I had only asked! Perhaps this phrase sounds familiar. You probably know firsthand how hard it is to ask for what you want at work. Ask and you shall receive? Surely we all know it's not that easy, especially in the cutthroat world of work.

Whether they are seeking employment for the first time or simply trying to advance their careers after years on the job, many women routinely

Asking the essential questions is an important life skill, one that any woman can master quickly.

How to ask for general career advice

During your career - especially at certain milestones in your advancement - you will come across people whom you will want to meet and learn from. They have crossed barriers that you haven't. They make climbing the corporate ladder look easy. They can help you tap a knowledge base that would take you years to access on your own. You meet these people in a myriad of ways, from giving them praise at work to volunteering with them at a nonprofit fund-raiser. When you ignite a conversation with one of them, instantly creating a dialogue, you discover that there's so much to learn from her experiences, and you want to get to know her.