You Are NEVER too Busy to Network
A lot of people errantly believe that networking takes far too much time in the busy day-to-day of modern life. This opinion, though quite frequent, couldnt be more wrong; it is through frequent networking that people make the most important connections in their lives, both professional and personal. The old view that networking means that one is getting an unfair advantage over another potential candidate no longer applies. In todays world, youve got to go for what you need and have the confidence to ignore anyone who thinks youre going after an unfair advantage. Networking is not cutting corners, networking rounding corners off so that you can connect to others in the process. Sharp edges leave the area around empty of not only competitors, but also colleagues. Networking is what brings you together with people, and yes, sometimes they will be competitors, but that doesnt mean that it can never be a profitable relationship for you. Even if it does not produce anything of worth for you in the near future, nine times out of ten its networking connections that allow people to make new transitions and what allows those of you in the business world to get new clients and get them on a good note, which means that you will have no trouble keeping them.
There are many ways to network that involve minimal time investments on your part. If the reason that you are not currently doing a lot of networking has to do with your perceived time constraints, then its time to re-evaluate your methods of networking, not whether or not you should be taking the time to network. The likelihood of different kinds of networking being beneficial to you varies; for this reason, youve got to think long and hard about what you would like to accomplish through networking and then you have to find the best arena for networking when it comes to the specific goals that you have laid out for yourself. This too, can be done by means of networking. Theres no better person to ask about networking than someone who does a lot of networking. Your first assignment is to network yourself into the best networking rings for whatever it is that youre looking to find or do by networking.
If youre looking to find a job, you have to start by making yourself marketable for the job you want. You can do this by training or simply by dressing and acting the part, whatever part that may be. Then youve got to get the word out that youre actively looking for a job in that field. If youre looking for a job in business, you should network within that sphere. Networking with Broadway actors is not going to get you a job as a legal secretary; its an extreme example, but you get the drift. Find the circles that you need to be in, and find your way into them.
Yes, this all takes a lot of time and energy, but the old adage applies: you get out what youve put in. The more energy, time and enthusiasm you put into establishing and maintaining network connections, the more likely you are to find your dream job and to find it quickly and in the location you were looking for. Networking is a way to make your own luck; dont let time slow you down because the more time and effort you invest, the more you will be happy with the end result. Along the way, youll make plenty of new friends and connections in addition to meeting the goals you had set for yourself.
