i recently lost my job and it's horrible being in the 'unemployed' class -- you're made to feel worthless, you have to take advice from people, perfectly well meaning of course, that are basically encouragement on digging your own grave - i love being in the position where i have to do some fake elizabethian courting ritual where i have to pretend i'm super excited to do whatever tf they do, oh and i'm the best man for the job! -- when you've just sent in 200 applications and gotten nothing back, when you've just been let go for dubious bullshit reasons, you're supposed to act like you're ready for a challenge!
important video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkYHNO2vNG4
It's telling, and sad, that everyone thinks networking is shmoozing and disingenuous. Networking is nothing more than meeting people and building relationships, if those relationships make sense.
I'm tight with my customers and vendors. Know why? Because I like them treat them like friends. We look for each other. They're familiar with my experience and personality. If I ever need a new job, I could probably get with one of those businesses quick.
It's nice to know people. Sometimes you can help them, sometimes they can help you. And if you treat it like some kind of filthy ladder climbing exercise, they'll know you're fake.
doing it in the context of being approachable and normal in the job you already have is way way different than somehow having it as a requirement to get a job though
Yeah it is super disappointing to essentially beg or call up your friends to see if they can get you into a job where they work.
Applying to jobs on my own it takes like 200 tries to find one. Getting an in with someone I know has worked 100% of the time for me. Everyone else i know it is around 50-60%
I know a lot of people are talking about the disingenuous nature of networking and your response is totally valid. Business runs on relationships.
But those relationships don't form if it wasn't for business. Sometimes beneficial for all parties, sometimes not. Hopefully people understand that this should not be the extent of all your relationships nor should you confuse work friends with friends outside of work.
In a world where the dominant culture emphasizes our ability to do work and create fiscal value it can seem like people have excised an important part of themselves.
I’m afraid the business bro does this exclusively rather than anything useful which is why you always get such bad advice like this.