NETWORKING C or D

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Are you a good networker? The Oxbridge thread suggested a lot of people were cross about it, but I think it's a life skill. I've given networking-type assistance/breaks to people for reasons ranging from what college they attended to picking someone for work experience based on their cool handwriting. And I'm sure I've had those benefits in return as well.

Sometinmes it's unfair, though, when you see some twunt gaining favour for no good reason. Examples? Your thoughts?

― suzy, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have never networked in my life. I'm too embarrassed.

― Nick, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

picking somebody because of their handwriting is an excellent idea. but i may think this because the recipient of a letter i sent told me i had beautiful handwriting.

― gareth, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Is it still networking when you really like everyone?

― chris, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I went to a book launch party for the Wallflower press last winter. Shamefully, I *really* worked the room. You couldn't see me for dust. Managed to get quite a paid freelance film reviews out of it.

Just goes to show that the legitimate processes of interviews and applications don't really mean much. I felt quite guilty about that, but if you don't, some other sod will I suppose...

― Will, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sadly my Oxford chums are as bone idle & underachieving as I and the only way they are ever of any Networking use is when I am trying to find a network to go to the pub with. I must meet some more thrusting people. Ahem.

― Emma, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i hate schmoozing. i've been to quite a few networky things, but since they're the type of affairs that usually have free BOUZE i've been content to quietly get pissed in a corner and let others do the schmoozing. it just feels false and wrong to me to netowrk.

― katie, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I hate networking as some standalone concept. Likely I have missed oodles of cushy assignments because of it. I prefer making friends and then helping them out as opposed to making fake friends first and foremost for the sake of gain.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, ack, I *hate* making friends with people for the sake of advancement. But my job is a terrific excuse to meet people - so I may as well - and I can usually suss out who's being nice to me for all the wrong reasons.

― suzy, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There's a very fine line between networking as neccessary way of making/keeping useful contacts and élitist, exclusionary self- selection. Partly unavoidable, frequently unfair.

― stevo, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

That said if anyone knows of a remotely decent vacancy in Holland etc etc

― stevo, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sorry, but I couldn't do networking. Sorry. Too apologetic as well as too embarrassed. I really should be making an effort about now, but it makes my insides go squishy. I have an uber-networking colleague who is basically a well-connected hollow man and walking advert for the ills of instrumentalism, but a friend is also a fine example of the possibility of networking without being an arse or losing your integrity (if that's not too pompous). I still find it grating, but figure that's more to do with my deficiencies than his.

― Ellie, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I know I should network, but I tend to find it too distasteful, largely because I need several bouzes before my shyness dissipates. Though I did once browbeat Ian Hislop (almost) into writing for a children's series I'm working on. He's a lovely man.

― Mark C, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It's probably a good idea if you are in the kind of work that demands knowing a lot of people, in order to get business/move on. For me, nope I have never networked. I know less than 20 people.

― james, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Networking gives me the howling fantods. I find talking to random people hard and I feel uncomfortable about the whole concept anyway. Going to Cambridge and Oxford has given me a huge distaste for the old-boy network and networking seems to be nothing more than an extension of that. I suppose I'm lucky to work in an area where it's pretty much irrelevant.

― RickyT, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't bother making friends with people for the sake of advancement. When I get out of university I might but at the moment the idea repels me. Its awful having to talk to people when you really don't like them, not worth it really

― Menelaus Darcy, Friday, 9 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Vass ist HOWLING FANTODS?

― suzy, Saturday, 10 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fantods. Edward Gorey. Critters with sneakers. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 10 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i thought howling fantods was something to do with david foster wallace. or was it pynchon?

― gareth, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

DFW. Extreme creepy cold sweat type fear/disgust.

― RickyT, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

DFW=the most 2D man of all time. but i do kind of like him

― gareth, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

fantods predates DFW: it's 19th-c at least

― mark s, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, probably. The two words together seem to be a DFW-ism though.

― RickyT, Monday, 12 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

seven years pass...

Okay, I need to learn how to network stuff for job-finding purposes. How do I actually do this? I'm great at making connections for people to find places to live, bandmates, etc.

But I need a tech job for me now.

― kingfish, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 22:21 (sixteen years ago)

i need to do more of this. the best way to find a job is to go out and let people in your industry know you exist, that you're a flesh & blood person and not just a resume. just scour the internet for networking events in your field, or even just conferences or panel discussions, and go to them -- take all the xanax and other social lubricant you need, and talk to people.

― ultimate sushi baller move (get bent), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 22:26 (sixteen years ago)

you don't even have to "network" per se (in the "hi, give me a job" sense); sometimes it's really helpful to meet people who are doing what you'd like to be doing and bend their ear for advice.

― ultimate sushi baller move (get bent), Tuesday, 16 June 2009 22:33 (sixteen years ago)

I'm networking tomorrow at an airforce base!

― wilter, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 23:02 (sixteen years ago)

meeting w/ customers (who are owned by the same corporation my coy is owned by)

― wilter, Tuesday, 16 June 2009 23:03 (sixteen years ago)

four months pass...

i went to a networking event this week (got quite into it actually - kinda fun). got a few emails from some ppl i met there but am wondering how soon you should get in there to ask about work/how i can be involved etc etc. straight away? or should you try and 'friend' them?

there was one guy with the exact mannerisms of ricky gervais there actually, which was very odd. he was very good at networking though.

― titchy (titchyschneiderMk2), Friday, 13 November 2009 15:33 (sixteen years ago)

four years pass...

thesis:

networking is a positively-socially-valued way of using people

people with a general aversion to using people, or to making themselves such as to be useable, are naturally bad networkers

networkers belong to a network of people who are 'useful' to other 'useful' people (so of course there are some genuinely useful people caught up in it, but also some not)

in conclusion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikh34ejKRDQ

― j., Sunday, 16 February 2014 22:27 (twelve years ago)

Yeah

― cardamon, Monday, 17 February 2014 05:57 (twelve years ago)

English comprehensive schools def do not prepare one for networking, I left school (many centuries ago) thinking you got jobs by filling in application forms or sending your CV in when someone advertised a job, lol what a sucker

― cardamon, Monday, 17 February 2014 05:59 (twelve years ago)

Networking is part of the glass ceiling in the UK job market, you may have paper qualifications but unless you were taught from a young age how to socialise with ulterior motives, how to do more complex relationships than friend/enemy/neutral, fat chance of navigating yr way into a career

― cardamon, Monday, 17 February 2014 06:04 (twelve years ago)

There is no 'getting into' a network: you're either born into it or you have something to put on the table, usually some money, and that's how you gain entrance

― cardamon, Monday, 17 February 2014 06:06 (twelve years ago)

how to do more complex relationships than friend/enemy/neutral

a mystery

― j., Monday, 17 February 2014 20:43 (twelve years ago)

I know, I know. But you know what I mean.

― cardamon, Monday, 17 February 2014 20:56 (twelve years ago)

I used to think networking was the worst and then I got into the nonprofit/education world and people are nice and everyone wants to work together. and not only do we want to work together we're instructed to through contracts and tied together through grants. it's an actual not-horrible thing to exchange business cards and make small talk. never thought it'd be possible not to feel like a smarmy fuck but hey here I am. reading upthread and seeing local people I know in business are good reminders i'm in the right industry

― friend to all animals (anky), Tuesday, 18 February 2014 19:03 (twelve years ago)

you must be in a different part of the education world

― j., Tuesday, 18 February 2014 21:01 (twelve years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.