Rusty Darbonne via Flickr

Learning how to network effectively is one of the most powerful tools an individual can use to advance their personal and professional life.

This skill can help you land your dream job, score a promotion, and become close with the leaders in your industry.

We spoke to networking guru Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder and Chairman of Business Network International, and Matthew Rothenberg, Editor-in-Chief of career content at TheLadders, about the secrets to networking effectively.

What does the best strategy for networking boil down to? Building real relationships, actively maintaining them, and giving as much as you take.

Of course, there's a lot more to it than just those details...