If you had told me at age 19 that I would be friends with people from my college internship in Boston 20 years later, I would have laughed at you, finding that impossible to imagine. Yet, that’s exactly what happened. College students have a hard time thinking long-term about relationships, but so do more experienced professionals. I recommend thinking about relationships for the long haul.

Most people go into the concept of networking or relationship-building with a view that is short-term. This is understandable because we’re usually taking time to meet with people when we need something. We’re thinking: Can this person help me find a job? Who do they know? Is there something available right now at their company? It’s okay to wonder about these questions, and even find answers to them, but in my experience it’s the long-term relationships that have value and a pay off over time.

My last full-time role was over three years in the making and involved keeping in touch with people who later became colleagues. I was also able to hear about the job before it was even posted. For an earlier position, I first met my future boss during an interview process where an internal candidate was chosen. I opted to stay in regular communication over a period of 8 months and she later hired me.

When working on a career transition or finding a great job in a specialized field where openings don’t appear every day, it’s even more important to think about developing relationships over time. This way when openings do become available, you’re on the short list of people for consideration.

The next time you have a coffee date or meeting with someone in a career area of interest to you, think beyond your immediate needs or evaluating the meeting based on short-term outcomes. Instead, think of it as a starting point for nurturing a longer-term relationship.