I was nervous about losing my job, so I joined the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce and started going to networking events. I'd meet 40 or 50 people, make notes on their business cards, and then when I got back to a computer, I'd search for them on LinkedIn. When the time came, I updated my status to "I'm up for grabs." I got a call with a lead that led to my job.
NEXT: Pat Bennett, 52
Last updated April 03 2009: 2:56 PM ET