Equal Opportunity Networking
I have no idea how to make it.
The advertising industry. I’ll take my chances. Dive into a rough-and-tumble world of telling stories and fairy tales.
No direction. I’ve graduated in marketing with a chasm where my design know-how should be. Maybe do the same as in my first month of college and join something?
First stop:
My local ad club.
It’s hard volunteering because I have little idea if I can help – or what I can offer.
First I volunteer for something constructive and fun, but it’s the wrong thing. Then I sign up for a networking happy hour.
I’m going to a networking happy hour…now what?
I walk in and feel anxious. People are congregating in the back.
Don’t worry. As soon as you get a drink or two you’ll relax. I beeline it to the bar…don’t judge – everyone has to have something to do with their hands. Wait for the bartender. Be patient. Don’t be a jerk and wave money around. Someone pulls up alongside me. This is as good a time as ever.
“Hello.”
“Hey, I’m – forgot it already now what – how are you?”
It’s been minutes.
Ring! Ring!
This happens to everyone. This moment, this signal:
You aren’t the person I should be talking to. You can’t help me get the job I want. You don’t work in the same industry. You aren’t powerful enough. You’re in the same jobless boat as me.
Even though we all feel it, I decide to fight it. All night. My instincts are selfish, but I know I’m on the same level as everyone else. Hell, maybe even I can help someone.
I meet a lot of students and higher-ups, and so it continues on the nights that follow at these friendly professional libations.
I start to approach it differently. I try to make friends and not just add “connections” to my “professional networks”. By forgetting about job titles, networking becomes a lot more fun and relaxed.
But I’m still jobless.
It’s been weeks.
I’m looking at LinkedIn and see something promising. Entry-level, little-to-no experience is OK, training will be provided…
Screaming off the page is the the name of someone that I now know. We met at one of my networking events. She loves running, writing and advertising. And, she works as an intern at the hiring agency.
I reach out and send her my resume. She passes it up the chain and two months later I get the job.
My start date is at the end of the month.
It wasn’t so long ago that I graduated.
Now I know this:
Everyone knows someone and everyone has a story; success lies in the paying attention.
It’s really important – when you’re starting to network – that you don’t just rush the C-Level people or the CD who has a crowd of young talent asking for an autograph.
Talk to everyone and keep an open mind.
Seriously.
Who really knows which friends you will make?
They might just change your life.
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- by AWSC
- posted at 1:28 pm
- June 19, 2012
