From Anti-Social to Community Building: Young Millennials Are Reinventing Networking

Networking is awkward, and everyone knows it.

But even with its pain points, going to meetups and reaching out still has huge upsides. Millennials and Generation Z are notoriously anti-social and have historically hated networking. So while it may be surprising, there are small communities within the groups that are trying to showcase not only the value of networking, but also bringing together people in a more authentic and collaborative way.

I teamed up with the young LA Clippers LinkedIn Meetup team to get their perspectives on how social networking is changing, where the value still lies, and what some future events might look like.

Nate Kara: the definition of networking, millennial misconceptions, and reciprocal relationships

"Each generation has a different point of view when the word ‘networking’ appears. Before using Linkedin I didn’t fully grasp the concept. Networking seemed to be this inherited word that I heard in the adult world but didn’t have any significance for me.

The biggest misconception millennials have with networking is that networking events always lead to a job. Some young millennials and generation z members seem to treat networking events as adults looking to hire me events. This is far from what the word means. To me, networking is seeking out like-minded people to discuss, create and listen. Whether it is meeting for coffee or a short phone call, having a network of people that will give you sound feedback is an incredibly empowering feeling.

With events like #linkedinlocals to the #LIClippers event this April, people are intentionally going to create new connections and build new relationships. You most likely won’t land a job, but having a reciprocal connection with someone who will support and listen to you can make the world of a difference in both of your careers."

Tiffany Parra: initial intent, comfort zones, and events with high ROI

“The intent behind networking does not always have to be to land a job or internship, but it can certainly help. As students, we crave knowledge; we are curious about jobs and what it’s like to work in the “real-world.” What better way to find out how your degree is being put to use post-graduation than to talk to individuals who are currently doing it?

The biggest lesson I have learned from college is that the moments where we step outside of our comfort zones is when opportunity strikes. It’s that extra Coursera course you took on Sports Management or perhaps that #PassionProject you’ve been working on, that helps differentiate you from everyone else in your major. These types of opportunities showcase genuine passion and willingness to learn outside of the classroom.

Since we’re on the topic of class, I think we, as students, can all agree that time is a precious commodity. It’s important to identify opportunities where your time is best served in order to get closer to your goals. For example, if you are looking to work in a startup environment, attending a Startup Career Fair could be a better use of time than a general Career Fair."

"Remember stay confident, humble, and engaged at any networking opportunity."

Joel Hansen: the heart behind organizing #Linkedinlocals, powerful offline connections, and #LIClippers idea

“I’ve had the privilege to host a Linkedin meetup in Ottawa with some Linkedin game changers like Michaela Alexis and Manu Goswami. Not only that, but through the community event, we were able to convince some rockstar entrepreneurs like the Co-founder of DAVIDsTEA, COO of Shopify and National Director of Corporate Affairs from Microsoft Canada to get behind our mission and speak.

None of those relationships would’ve elevated in the manner they did if we kept our connections online. This is exactly the heart of what a Linkedin meetup provides: in-person community.

The vision behind the Linkedin Clippers Meetup was fairly straightforward.

Find a supporting company

Build a rockstar team

Focus on a pressing and under-discussed topic

After I had heard that the Clippers were interested in pursuing this idea - the rest was history.”

Outlook on the Future of Networking

The change that has occured on Linkedin and its vivacious community is hard to miss. More than ever, people are connecting offline, and many of these initiatives are initiated by some of the community’s youngest members.

By combining both online and offline communication, the young community on LinkedIn is leveraging their strengths to increase their network reach and value. I suspect that more of these LinkedIn events are bound to happen, given the incredible momentum and support they have from platform members at large.

#StudentVoices #LinkedinCreators #LIClippers

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On April 11th, the LA Clippers LinkedIn meetup will be hosting some incredible speakers to dig into the future of sports and how to develop your personal brand at the Los Angeles Staples Center. The best part? Everyone gets a FREE ticket to walk down to their seats to see the Clippers take on the Lakers after the event. Learn more and grab your ticket here.