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Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - LevelUP - 08-08-2022
Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really)
https://jdcampolargo.medium.com/why-you-shouldnt-network-in-college-or-ever-really-3582ad03b05f
"In the book, How to Win at College, Cal Newport shares the “antinetworking” approach, which consists of getting what you want by never asking for it."
You could waste a bunch of time networking or "use that time to build something that pays off in the future like making videos, writing essays, coding a project, or building a startup?"
Thoughts?
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - ss20ts - 08-08-2022
Most people I know find their new jobs through their network.
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - Alpha - 08-08-2022
So, you're saying no frat parties? (cuz I think that's what some people mean by "networking."
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - Vle045 - 08-08-2022
(08-08-2022, 04:56 PM)Alpha Wrote: So, you're saying no frat parties? (cuz I think that's what some people mean by "networking."
The only thing a frat party brought me was my first fiancé. Thankfully I didn’t marry that guy. Kinda wish I had kept the ring though. It was really unique and I picked it out.
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - bjcheung77 - 08-08-2022
Frankly, I never networked at school or at work... I'm not sure how or why, but people chose me to "join" them at their new jobs. I never actually applied, just a co-worker handed my info the the managers and I interviewed for them, and the rest were history. I don't use social media such as facebook, linkedin, nothing... I have accounts on them only to see what they have to offer (in terms of learning if any). Networking works to a point, it depends what you need it for...
Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - ROYISAGIRL - 08-08-2022
I think it depends on the type of work you do. In my line of work certain types of promotions need recommendation letters. They don't want them from just your direct supervisor, they want them from SMEs in whatever the job you're trying to promote in. There's more to it than just the qualifications or degree.
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - Alpha - 08-08-2022
(08-08-2022, 04:38 PM)ss20ts Wrote: Most people I know find their new jobs through their network.I am happy to say that I have a pretty good working network of connections in my area. 100% of it is from my various jobs over the years and none of it came from my school (even though I went to a pretty well-known school).
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - ss20ts - 08-08-2022
(08-08-2022, 06:56 PM)Alpha Wrote:(08-08-2022, 04:38 PM)ss20ts Wrote: Most people I know find their new jobs through their network.I am happy to say that I have a pretty good working network of connections in my area. 100% of it is from my various jobs over the years and none of it came from my school (even though I went to a pretty well-known school).
Networks go beyond school.
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - freeloader - 08-08-2022
I think the author is setting up networking as a sort of straw man. What is is really saying is don’t do networking BADLY. Don’t spend all of your time trying to cast the widest possible net collecting the great possible number of highly superficial connections. I agree with that and I willingly concede that such activity is often a waste of time, effort, and money. But is that all that “networking” is?
A counselor at my undergraduate institution gave a talk on networking that I attended. She said networking is a lot like dating. There are interactions like speed dating and chatting up people at bars which are not likely to turn into anything. There are unrequited admirations that never turn into anything. And there are meaningful connections, which may well come from chatting up a person in a bar so to speak, that turn into a long-term relationship, whether it be with an intimate partner or an employer.
This author is basically saying don’t speed date because it is self serving and doesn’t lead to anything. I reject this premise as the person on the other side of the speed dating table is often looking for something as well. Markets, in all of their manifestations, only work because people operate out of self-interest. A self-interested 20 year old in all likelihood is talking to another self-interested 20 year old. The hope is that when one of them is a 24 year old they can put in a good word for an acquaintance and hopefully help that 24 year old get a job. What, exactly, is wrong with that?
I would liken the speed dating analogy to a lot of “networking” with peers, including on college campuses. If someone goes to a speed dating event and doesn’t walk away with any subsequent dates/matches, they have failed. So too with college networking. If you have said hello to all 20,000 people at your campus, but none of them know you, you likely have achieved nothing. If some of those hellos turn into relationships, then you might well have something. THAT, my friends, is what GOOD networking is.
But, what of the author taking about having conversations with Elon Musk and other people of prominence and stature? Well, I do not think the author is being nearly so insightful as they think they are. Wealthy, successful people engage in market transactions just like the rest of us! But, what could a college student possible offer Elon Musk, you ask? He is perhaps the wealthiest person in the world, after all. Exactly! His market transactions (and those of other prominent, wealthy individuals) are, ironically, much less likely to be driven by money than the interactions that I had with my college “network”. Elon Musk doesn’t need this kid’s money. He doesn’t need a good word with HR or the GM a few years down the road. Elon Musk needs affirmation. He needs adoration. He needs not only to be the best, but also needs to be the type of person who can identify and support the best in younger generations. Perhaps like a certain author…. If Elon Musk was getting nothing from his relationship with the author, he simply wouldn’t respond. Period.
The author is saying don’t play checkers, play chess. Fair enough. Except, and let’s be honest here, there are plenty of people who aren’t smart enough or driven enough to play chess. And there are people who hate chess. Not everybody wants to be Gary Kasparov. A lot of us are perfectly happy to win checkers almost all the time when we play our friends and family.
RE: Why You Shouldn’t Network In College (or ever really) - dfrecore - 08-09-2022
My husband is an expert networker. He is really, really good at connecting with people, connecting those people with other people (he has introduced 2 couples that ended up getting married), he is great at reaching out to people he hasn't heard from in a while just to say hi and see what they're up to. He's just good at it. In return, he hasn't looked for a job in 20+ years; they come looking for him. He is constantly contacted by people to see if he's happy where he's at, and gets job offers all the time.
Now, this guy is writing about networking as purely selfish, but I don't agree with him. Networking is about making connections. And it's not just about you - MANY times, my husband has found out about a job opportunity at his company and reached out to a person in his network to tell them about it. Or he has had someone reach out to him about a job, and he has recommended someone he knows instead. He is anything but selfish in his networking.