Redefining Networking

When I talk about networking with clients, I often sense a quiet resistance. For some, it’s the introvert’s dread of having to “extrovert.” (I can relate!) For others, it feels like an unfair hoop to jump through; one more exhausting task in an already broken job search system.

And you know what? They're not wrong.

Our job board system is broken.

And yes, it would be wonderful if hiring were always fair, transparent, and based purely on merit. But right now, that's not the world we live in.

Still, I think it’s important to reframe what networking really is and to normalize it. At its core, networking is simply about having conversations with people about work.

We spend so much of our lives working. Why wouldn’t we talk about it? Why wouldn’t we learn from one another?

Maybe it’s time to give ourselves permission to connect again. Our world has become more isolated and individualized, even before the COVID-19 pandemic pushed us further apart. But we can remind ourselves that:

• It’s OK to talk to people.

• It’s OK to ask for help or advice.

• It’s OK to trust that others may want to support you.

If you’re going to embrace networking in any capacity, the most important thing is to find a way that works for you. Networking doesn’t have to mean working a room of strangers or cold messaging people on LinkedIn. It can be quiet. It can be relational. It can be one-on-one conversations with people you already know. It can be warm introductions from people who care about you.

In other words, it doesn’t have to feel fake or forced.

It can feel like… connection.

It should feel like connection.

Remember that your network isn’t a tool. Your network = people. Real people, with hearts and minds, many of whom would love to help move you forward in the next step of your career journey.

Have questions? Not sure where to start? I’d love to help—feel free to reach out! Schedule a Discovery Call with me here.