Networking, Plain and Simple

Networking, Plain and Simple Networking is nothing more than an exchange of information.   Yet we tend to over-think it and perhaps make it more difficult than it needs to be.   Each time you interact with someone could be called networking.   Perhaps networking needs a new name?   (I wrote about this before in Networking or Whatever You call it). Last night I facilitated a group as they discussed the progress of their job search.   They talked about their successes for the week.   Their stories drove home the point that you cant hold back! One gentleman explained that while driving past a construction site for a new commercial property, he yelled out the care window to the guys working, Hey, do you have any jobs?   They yelled back,   Yes, go talk to the foreman! And he did.   This particular job seeker wasnt personally interested in the construction jobs available, but he did share contact information with the group.   Stepping outside of his comfort zone proved to be a worthwhile event. Another job seeker was on a hike with 20 others and as he said, he had a captive audience.   As they hiked, he talked about his search, companies he would like to work for and you know what?   He got a couple of new companies to explore and names as well. Another member of the group got an email from a past supervisor which simply asked Whats up? Are you looking for work?   (How do you suppose his past supervisor found this out?) No matter what level position you had, the process is the same.   Executives and maintenance mechanics all network to find jobs.   Yes, what they say might be slightly different and where they do it might be different, but the outcome is the same! Dont over-think this! I hear youyou cant shout out your car window to a corporationbut, you can find opportunities to meet people who work in those corporations. We spend so much of our energy worrying about doing the right thing or how others may perceive us that we enter into analysis paralysis and do NOTHING! Instead of over-thinking how you will network and with whom, can you just get out of your house and meet some people?   See what happens!