I recently came to terms that networking to get a job is something that everyone is doing it. I used to really hate it for what I believe to be the right reasons. It felt weird and artificial - like...and ... Even though I was asking to hear about an individuals unique experiences, I still felt that I was being a user, because if it weren't for the job search, I probably wouldn't be reaching out to this person in the first place. Still I did it, both dreading it and enjoying it.
It's great to be able to talk to people outside your network for career advice and just chat about stuff in general - just like meeting a new person anywhere. This is the best thing about networking even for the purpose of job searching. You reach out to another human being and although they don't know you, they still respond to your outreach. After a successful networking call, you leave with insider information about a company's culture, genuine career advice, and good small -sometimes not so small- talk. Maybe we as human beings should be able to ask and offer help more often, or even just connect with random people to keep us outside of our own little bubbles.
Thinking about networking in a more positive light changed my apprehension towards it. Admittedly, it still feels like I'm being a total schmoozer and wasting people's time asking the same questions. You're calling people asking them the same question you asked dozens of other people for the sake of making a connection. I'm still apprehensive about networking in this regard, but I'm no longer feel weird about making the cold e-mails.
I think the whole process is great for the jobs searcher due to the aforementioned insider information. On the plus side, for the person receiving the call they can probably pick and choose their co-workers. If you end up speaking with a person and they're exactly the type of person on your team, it just made your hiring decision a whole lot easier. Due to the volume of people that are doing it, I think it add a randomness (not only getting a job via connection) and still allows for merit to be considered.
What are your takes on networking?
To those of you who are awkward or think they are. Occasionally, there will be awkward conversations because we don't click with everyone, but you at least can make the most of it and learn to alleviate things when they go wrong. Practice makes perfect, but don't burn bridges. Use the somewhat ulterior motive to get over yourself and write the first e-mail. if you're a student, its especially cool to know that chill people exist in the workforce.
PS. Maintain your networks.
Just gotta say that stalking employees for hours on LinkedIn then finding the email format then finding the best approach then sending them emails is an absolute pain in the ass yet it's the only way
This, unfortunately, is the way.
best to just send them a direct message on linkedin instead of email. been getting a better response rate and seeing the profile is a personalized touch
It's not just a first job or internship thing either. You'll need to network for many jobs / opportunities for the rest of your life. It's how that's done. Getting good at it is a real skill. Maintaining a network is a real skill. Learn to be a giver too as networking can't be one sided.
What do you do to maintain your network?
I never maintained the connection that I made 3-4 years ago when I was a student. While making a recent to-contact list, I noticed that many target contact had connections to a dude I talked to in the past when I was a student. I'm talking several people in a certain lending space - small world.
It was suggested that reaching out to a person and bypassing the mutual contact is bad etiquette and I kind of agree with the sentiment, but if you have a pretty large and overlapping network the other person probably doesn't care or doesn't want to be bothered each time you make a connection as long as you don't name drop / use them to make the connection.
It makes me question how serial network with 500+ LinkedIn connections actually network.
Don't overcomplicate things. Just stay in touch, from time to time, with people you value in your network. You can't stay in touch with 500+ people individually. Linkedin is interesting as you can post things from time to time and some people will respond. Easy to shoot them a quick message. Or if you see cool info about them or their company you can send them a quick note "Saw X on linked in, looks like you guys are doing some interesting work or crushing it or whatever..." Ultimately it becomes an informal conversation. As you get older, this becomes important as many people like helping and that's realized by being connectors to opportunities.
I'm 56. To this day I make a point of "touching base" with certain relationships I haven't spoken to in some time. Actually schedule time to do it and just randomly reach out to certain people mainly via linkedin. Sometimes I'll pick up the phone and call them (based on the relationship). I have a few people I have never actually done business with, but by staying in touch, they've connected me to others (connectors or direct business opportunities).
The important takeaway is this: networking is not an event, but rather an ongoing process (that never ends).
In your experience, when making the initial connection, is it better/more natural to reach out to people on LinkedIn instead of finding their email somewhere? You'll know it goes to their inbox (although it could also go straight to spam), but I feel like on LinkedIn it feels more natural since that's kind of the whole point of that website imo.
it's only awkward if you or the other person makes it awkward. Most of the time if you're confident enough, you can get a meeting or a call and it could pay massive dividends.
Infinitely preferable to soulless resume dumps sorted by an algorithm and then a distracted HR professional
This is the way
(yes, i'm copying others)
I honestly think if you're good at it it isn't awkward/schmoozy-- as simple as that. When I was in college and looking for an internship it was awkward because I was awkward. With time you just start to look at it as meeting new people, not as some rigid concept of "networking"...I think this is really the key because then you start forming meaningful relationships that can actually have a tangible impact on your career.
This part struck me because once you get more comfortable and knowledgeable, your questions will get more personal and nuanced -- you will let the conversation flow naturally instead of having a list of set questions. Sure, have that list as a back-up so that you're prepared, but you can likely learn much more and develop more meaningful connections by talking about hobbies instead of deal flow. Good luck :-)
Always been this way, at least in Commercial Real Estate. Have not ever gotten a job through applying online, the job posting only goes up so that HR can send my resume through that way.
It definitely can feel fake at times given your intentions are purely selfish in that you're trying to land a job, especially early on in your career or in college. However, as you move on in life networking becomes a key tool, especially in finance, to establishing relationships which can be critical at random points down the road. I've viewed the intial networking I did for getting into banking as good practice for the networking I've done since then when it was in a more general sense. Maintaining that network can be as simple as shooting an email if you see someones firm in the news or just sending a note related to a common interest or whatever you may have established. It does pay dividends down the road though if you diligently do so
Networking isn't a one-time thing, it's ongoing IMO. You need to build a network and then make an effort to reach out to the network periodically and then call on them when you have an ask. For some reason, people don't see it as a real skill/value but it a HUGE chunk of value with senior level hires is their network.
Raising capital? Cool make a few calls and raise in a shorter period of time using your network instead of cold calling 500 VCs.
Need deal flow? It will start coming to you organically once your network is large enough.
Need to hire for a specific position? Great, ping people in the space and ask for referrals or try to hire any of the consultants you worked with a few years ago instead of engaging a search firm or going through 500+ resumes.
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