Reply to: Networking: a dying art?

[denver2k]

agreed. the problem that most people seem to have is selfishness. They think about networking in terms of "what can I get out of this". This is absolutely the wrong attitude to start from. You need to be in the habit of thinking "how can I help the next person I meet to get/find/learn something useful for them". If you do this, then what you build is a network of people who want to return the favour.

Once you have a network of people who want to return the favour, then you are networking. Up to that point, you're just acting like a pain in the arse

Agreed

Up to that point, you're just acting like a pain in the arse

Cant agree more

[XLMonkey]

I
The problem with "networking" is that it has such associations with forced conversations and trying to get something out of your contact.

agreed. the problem that most people seem to have is selfishness. They think about networking in terms of "what can I get out of this". This is absolutely the wrong attitude to start from. You need to be in the habit of thinking "how can I help the next person I meet to get/find/learn something useful for them". If you do this, then what you build is a network of people who want to return the favour.

Once you have a network of people who want to return the favour, then you are networking. Up to that point, you're just acting like a pain in the arse

[XLMonkey]

It's a dark art not a dying art...

I know contractors who live off their networking skills and have done 12 month contracts without actually delivering anything. They still leave looking good to the Exec. Genius

I resemble that remark.

[Brussels Slumdog]

50% Networking+ 50% Jobboards

It's a must do imo. Recession times mean contacts and not agents are more important than ever.

The problem is that there are several network sites. I don't have the time to maintain several so I just use Linkedin.
Agents that I have spoken to tend to use Jobserve as this reaches a wider
audience.
The advantage of a network site is that I could quickly inform you about a gig which I have been told about but I am either not qualified for or don't want and visa versa.
I use the network site also as a form of an address book. ie phone number
when last spoken to etc.

[Grinder]

I went to a free seminar given by a PM training company this morning. Started off with breakfast! Sure - there was a sales pitch - nothing in life is free - but it was a good session.

Not many attendees - only one other freelancer there. 50+% of the permies worked in public sector and not one person hung around to chat or network after the event (or before for that matter).

I guess networking is only for contractors!!

Where was that? I would have gone if I'd known - I guess my investigative skills are not so good.

[Tensai]

Not many attendees - only one other freelancer there. 50+% of the permies worked in public sector and not one person hung around to chat or network after the event (or before for that matter).

I guess networking is only for contractors!!

It's an absolute must for permies as well, if they're at all bothered about climbing the ladder.

The problem with "networking" is that it has such associations with forced conversations and trying to get something out of your contact.

A network should consist of people who (a) you get on with on a personal level, (b) are skilful/knowledgeable in their own area, and most importantly (c) can both gain and give from the relationship.

What tends to happen is a network grows through normal interactions between people. Trying to expressly create a network is as challenging as trying to create a network of friends from scratch. It should happen fairly naturally, and will do so as long as you're not afraid to be the one to strike up a conversation. Having small talk skills helps a lot.

Nothing insightful above, but worth repeating.

[Mustang]

It's a dark art not a dying art......

That's exactly the response I wanted to hear!! I was trying to provoke response! Some people dabble. Some people ignore it.

There is one guy I know on these boards and he seems to have it off to a fine art! He has certainly encouraged me to promote networking as more than "dabbling"!! You know who you are - thanks!

[mailric]

It's a dark art not a dying art...

I know contractors who live off their networking skills and have done 12 month contracts without actually delivering anything. They still leave looking good to the Exec. Genius

[Mustang]

I went to a free seminar given by a PM training company this morning. Started off with breakfast! Sure - there was a sales pitch - nothing in life is free - but it was a good session.

Not many attendees - only one other freelancer there. 50+% of the permies worked in public sector and not one person hung around to chat or network after the event (or before for that matter).

I guess networking is only for contractors!!

[the_duderama]

Mustang, my man. You have got tooooo much time on your hands.

I love networking. Cisco, Nortel, you name it, I'm there

I network on a massive scale everyday at work, it's mostly cisco and 3com though. Haww.

[XLMonkey]

How many people on here actually network? Is it a dying art? Discuss.

Mustang, my man. You have got tooooo much time on your hands.

I love networking. Cisco, Nortel, you name it, I'm there

[fckvwls]

How many people on here actually network? Is it a dying art? Discuss.

It's a must do imo. Recession times mean contacts and not agents are more important than ever.

[Grinder]

I would join the C-UK LinkedIn group; if you can keep it out of the directory then people don't have to declare their user ids when joining.

Personally I would then hope to 'connect' with people I know in the group. I could just put my LinkedIn home page in my signature.... but open invitations make me cringe.

[blacjac]

I put together a simple 3 machine network last week.





Oh....

[NickNick]

I'm not bothered, and have "linked In" to one chap from here recently.