A question I always welcome at the end of a jobseeker call, often offering access to their network when I'm recruiting.

But really, the best thing anyone can do is to pay it forward in kind.

The chances of any one person being able to reciprocate directly is unlikely (unless you wish to put a retained assignment my way).

Is it really altruism if you help someone expecting something in return?

However, it's inevitable you'll know someone, either personally or in your network, that you can help.

Helping others costs nothing and can really make a difference, especially if they are struggling in a difficult job search.

So this is the task I set you - every time someone helps you, go out of your way to provide equal help to two other people.

No more than that, because you need to help yourself too.

Don't stop at liking a post or "commenting for my network" - if you have time and you know you can give practical help, go further and contact them, introduce yourself, share a burden.

There are implicit benefits for you, when you pay it forward.

Not least of which, the more people do this, the more people are likely to contact you to offer their support.

Plus you'll come away with more energy than when you went in.

You may make a difference and at worst this is good practice for networking.

If you help others without agenda, and only as much as you've been helped, you'll only have a positive outcome from that effort.

It's a systematic approach that breaks the zero-sum approach to networking - propagative reciprocation. It's a wave that can only keep growing.

It's a decent thing to do too.

Happy Pay it Forward Friday.