Anytime is time to network

I hadn’t seen my cousin Johnny since we were kids. We did things active kids do—played Wiffle Ball and soccer, climbed trees, ran races. One day we spent close to three hours hitting golf balls from one corner of his parents’ yard to the next. We were practicing our chip shots. They were good times back then.

It was now summer, 13 years ago, at a large family reunion, during the 4th of July weekend. Steaks and hotdogs were sizzling on the grill; a pot of lobsters was boiling on the stove inside my mom’s house; potato and macaroni salads and other side dishes sat on the picnic table; and cold soft drinks and beer were chilling in two large coolers.

The weather was a bit hot, maybe 95 degrees; but there was a lake not 50 feet from the deck, and a boatload of family kids swam and jumped off the dock.

I was working as a MarCom writer for a software company that year—and although I didn’t grasp the technology as well as I’d liked, I was doing well at work. Raises were consistent, as were bonuses. It was nice to have a long weekend to spend with immediate and extended family. It was nice seeing relatives I hadn’t seen forever.

Sometime during the reunion, when people were walking about and catching up after many years of not seeing each other, Johnny walked up to his parents’ car and returned with a laptop. I was in charge of the steaks and hotdogs. My dog Rookie had eaten too many steaks, so she stored them behind rocks, bushes, and wherever she could find hiding spots. I found this to be hilarious and was paying more attention to her than I was Johnny.

But soon there was a small crowd gathered around him. Then he was walking to other small groups of family members, showing them what he had on his laptop. I was curious, so I left my post at the grill to see what he was showing on the laptop.

Johnny was showing everyone his website. At the time I thought this was an inappropriate time to be showing family his website. After all, this was a family reunion, not a business meeting.

Later he told everyone who would listen that he had just completed his Microsoft Certification. I didn’t understand the significance of the certification, or why he was telling others about his success.

Bragging, I thought. He is bragging. I didn’t remember him as being a braggart when we were kids; but I hadn’t seen him in since we were kids. Maybe he had changed.

Then he told people that he was looking for a job. He passed out business cards to all who accepted, stating that his skills included Web design, MIS, Communication, Network Design, as well as MS Certification.

At a family event, I thought. How tacky. He was shameless.

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Two years after the family reunion, it was announced that the company for which I worked needed a Manager of Information Systems. We had an employee referral bonus program, and I wanted to make some money. Sometime between the reunion and the announcement I had heard that my cousin Johnny was still out of work. I recalled that he had trained for MIS and had a Microsoft Certification. I also remembered how classless I thought it was for him to “work the room” at the family reunion; but that didn’t dissuade me from sending him an e-mail, asking for his résumé.

Our CFO was impressed with Johnny’s MS Certification. He said he was going to call him. Within two days Johnny was interviewed by the company. We greeted each other briefly; it was an awkward moment, almost like we didn’t know each other. Two days after the interview Johnny was hired by the company.

I made $1,000 for referring Johnny, $600 after taxes, but the greatest reward was being told by my bosses that they loved Johnny. He worked tirelessly and did great work. I gained a great deal of respect from my employer simply for suggesting Johnny for the job.

More than anything, I learned from this experience that there are hardly any occasions when networking is not appropriate, even at a family reunion.

This article originally appeared on Things Career Related.