I Hate Networking
by Rakshitha Arni Ravishankar, Associate Editor
In grad school, our orientation included a long lecture on the importance of networking as young journalists. At the time, it didn’t make any sense to me. I’d walk into a room full of strangers and drown in my anxiety. It felt selfish to initiate conversations just to benefit my career. Even when people responded positively, I struggled to keep the dialogue going. The whole exercise was uncomfortable, exhausting, and frankly, futile.
Then, in the summer of 2018 — when I was unemployed (and clueless) — I took a chance. I wrote a short message asking people for job leads and posted it on a Facebook networking forum. To my surprise, I was flooded with responses from potential employers. One message was from a marketing specialist at Ascend — who’d later become my work BFF — informing me about an opening on the team.
The rest is history.
Over the last five years, I’ve learned to stop thinking of networking as a “dirty word.” I ask myself: If someone wanted my feedback, would I feel upset, or would I feel grateful to share my knowledge? I remind myself that connecting with strangers or asking them for help isn’t self-indulgent or weak. It’s a moment of vulnerability that allows me to build a meaningful connection.
I’ve also learned that everybody has a network, including you. Your friends, family, colleagues, peers, and mentors are all part of it. Beyond the job hunt, building a network can help you in so many ways. It can introduce you to diverse people and perspectives. It can allow you to exchange knowledge, pay it forward, and make new friends.
I know networking feels hard, but that’s only because we lack practice — not because it’s an elusive skill that only some possess. If you’re curious to learn more, here’s some advice from our experts.
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Three big ways to leverage your network, beyond landing a new job.
Networking is about making yourself visible — and you can do it even as a remote worker.
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IIM A ; adidas Strategic Planning and DTC Key Account Management ; Retail Operations
1 年Interesting but very unlike what people do
Brand Management | MBA
1 年The idea that networking is somehow selfish or undesirable is exactly why we started theaskmethod.co
law graduate by education , Pranic healer by Profession,
1 年Thank you for sharing this many young ones very intelligent though have no networking abilities leave about in job front even at home front they are equally bad
Helping personal brand business owners get clarity on their messaging, systems & strategies to write great content that grows visibility, impact & revenue | Copywriter & Brand Messaging Strategist | Corporate Dropout
1 年I don't think it is vulnerable to network. Often, when I talk to people on LinkedIn (my primary form of networking) we're helping each other. If we give as much as we take, this shouldn't feel like vulnerability or shameful.
Next Trend Realty LLC./wwwHar.com/Chester-Swanson/agent_cbswan
1 年Very Interesting Article, On I Hate Networking.