Networking Undefined
Although it may seem counterintuitive, mastering the art of networking requires you to first understand what networking is NOT.
- Networking is not about schmoozing, a term that implies insincere flattery and attention.
- Networking is not about having two meetings, then asking for a career boost.
- Networking is not about exploiting others to get what you want.
- Networking is not about you.
To put it bluntly: networking has never been and will never be about you. Networking is about developing a genuine curiosity towards others and finding ways to add value to their lives. The essence of networking intelligently is captured in a quote by Winston Churchill: “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” Those that understand the golden rule of networking (that it’s about giving value to others) will attain great success. Those that don’t will walk a lonely way.
Now that we know what networking ISN’T, it’s time to ask yourself: “Why do I need to network?”
Why is networking important? Because in this world, who you know often matters much more than what you know. Not convinced? Here are three statistics that will help reframe your thinking:
+ Employee referrals are the #1 external hiring source.
+ Job seekers applying for a position with an employee referral are 70x more likely to be hired than without one.
+ Fortune 500 companies solicit their employee base for candidates 4 – 6 weeks before ever posting a job online or through other recruitment channels.
The value of networking has been proven in reams of publicly available research. Frameworks for valuing professional networks have also been created [one such framework was developed by David Teten in The Virtual Handshake]. So, now that we understand the value proposition of networking, let’s explore the “why”. Why do we network? Quite simply, because job security is a relic of the past. To companies, human capital is viewed the same way as capital expenditures – an expense that can be cut when necessary. We network so that we have the relationships in place to help us whenever we need it. We network because the assistance of others is often required to reach a higher level of career success. We network because it works [re-read stats above].
