When you hear word “networking”, what comes to your mind first?

You probably think about going to a job fair or asking all of your friends, family members and acquaintances for jobs.

But if you are currently employed, you might very well have easy access to one of best networks you can have.

Let me introduce you to a different networking concept – that of “inside” networking, “inside” meaning: within your current company or organization.

68% of large U.S. companies have some kind of employee networks, according to Diversity Best Practices group.

Lots of these corporate networking groups are divided into functional categories, like sales, public relations, etc.

You might ask: “but how will I benefit from joining a networking group within my company? Why will this help my career?”

Here are 7 reasons why joining one of your company’s networking group, like “Advertising Leadership Team” will give a huge boost to your career

1, You will have access to company leaders you otherwise wouldn’t through interaction within group and through delivering presentations, and joining in on projects.

2, Active involvement in company decision making process. For example: if you are an integral part of your company’s “Advertising Leadership Team” you will have insight into how decisions are made and you will also have responsibility for success of projects involving that team.

3, You will have access to a huge network of like-minded professionals who are also interested in advancing their career, participating in special projects and learning new skills.

Bob, one of guys I was chatting with at a party, asked what kind of returns I had made for my clients with my methodical no load mutual fund strategy during past year. I replied that they had unrealized gains of slightly over 29%, after management fees, for 8 months that we were invested.

Bob countered with a smirk that he had made a 40% return. I raised my eyebrows and told him that was darn good—and suggested that maybe he ought to be managing my money. At that point we were interrupted and, as evening went on, I began to wonder exactly how Bob had gotten his great return.

I cornered him a little later on and, upon digging a little deeper, story looked somewhat different. Yes, he had made a 40% return on a mutual fund he had some money invested in, however, we were comparing apples and bananas.

He had a total portfolio of $100k. Being cautious, he had invested only $10k into a mutual fund, from which he profited $4k after he sold it. The balance of his portfolio ($90k) was sitting in a money market fund earning some 0.35% per year.