Networking During the Time of Covid

“Nathan— How has networking changed during the pandemic lockdowns?”

This has been the most common question I have received through dozens of speaking engagements and webinars over the past year. From a hiring and recruitment standpoint, it’s not surprising. Networking is hands-down THE most important skill to have in job-search or career development. But going out and being social isn’t the norm like it was. And this doesn’t just affect those of us in the USA, but the world. We’re all on the same boat.

But the great news is— Networking has only gotten better. And it’s only going to get better from here!

Why? A few different things:

VIDEO. Though a networking meeting is best when in person, video is the next best thing. (Seeing each other eye-to-eye; face-to-face.) I began using video to network and coach clients a few years back. At that time, most people were reluctant to use the tech; mostly because they hadn’t learned how. But these days… none of us have had a choice. And by default, after being hunkered down in our homes, people have had to improvise and adapt; if not for work, for keeping touch with our family and friends. Now, we’re all able to use it. And we’re all using it on a regular basis!

CONVENIENCE. Just before all this craziness went down, a typical networking meeting was scheduled for a coffee shop, restaurant, and even workplaces. What’s key here is the scheduling. When life was more like it was, squeezing in 20 minutes to chat with someone directly competed with work hours, daily commutes and personal lives. However, now that working from home is commonplace, people have much more time to network. Commutes are at a low, and daily work can be done on our own time. 

What this means is that people are more available!

PANDEMIC BOREDOM. I mean, amirite? 

Think about it: if quarantine has made you stir crazy, wouldn’t it be the same for others? Absolutely. (Believe me, I have discussions about this all the time. Maybe you do, too.)

As such, wouldn’t it be great to get back out there with those we know and those we want to meet? Absolutely. And we’re not alone. Everyone else is feeling the same to some degree. Consequently, people are much more open to meeting with those they have not met before. Just having new conversations is welcomed by most, even to ward off some of the monotony. (We are human, after all. We need attention and interaction.) And when a meeting turns into a great discussion, it turns out to be a great decision to have accepted the meeting in the first place. New people, new information, human contact (as it were), and the ability to help others at one’s own convenience. It’s a little bit magic.

5G. This is what’s going to change our world. 5G has been mostly turned on over the past year, globally. Because the 5G network is at least 25 times faster than what we currently have, our tech is going to evolve significantly. Especially video. Clearer, faster, more convenient, more devices. And as technology as we know it tries its best to mimic human behavior, you can see how video will evolve into it’s next phase— virtual reality. In time, we will be able to see more of our contacts and their environments—not unlike meeting at a coffee shop. 

So fret not! The only thing that is currently different with networking, is the handshake. But everything else is still the same over video: your bright smile, grateful attitude, and informed (researched) discussion. And with video, you are still face-to-face, exchanging information— which is what networking is all about in the first place. And though you won’t be shaking as many hands for the time being, everything else will be the same. So reach out and schedule that meeting!