1. So, you did not make the connection, is it still networking?
School is over and even though additional classes are in order, I need a job. Bright ideas
keep coming. Call up everybody I know that has a job. This will take the leg work out of actually
looking for one. When in school I would always run into this guy who worked for a large
company. This person had a personality, always making the conversation interesting.
Recognizing me he would always make reference to relatives in my family he went to
school with. If he’s this nice a job at his company may be offered, besides he had received a
promotion and was now in charge of hiring. Calling his office he acknowledged immediately he
knew who I was. I asked about working at the company, he took my information and said he
would call me. Great.
Weeks later talking to a friend of mine who was also looking for a job commenting on
my endeavors I shared the contact information with him and told him this guy was receptive. Ok,
my friend called the guy, met with him and was hired, just like that. Wow, this guy is great. No
more waiting give this person a call remind him about the good referral I’ve just given him and
slightly mention my job need.
Calling the guy; hey it’s me. He responded yes, I know who you are. Immediately I
offered additional information and would forward it via email. Once again the guy said he would
call me. Later on my friend informed me that he had a couple of semesters under his belt and the
guy I knew wanted me to get further in my classes.
So, was this guy in my network? Yes he was. He was a great guy. At the time of me
reaching out to him, he did not reciprocate my endeavors. Sometimes we write people off not
getting immediately what we wanted. When my friend talked about his job need, I should have
said well, I hope you find one.
But I remembered that hiring person had an engaging personality, he was a great guy.
During the time he would stop and talk to me he always had the right words. Instilling something
in me, I wanted to talk like that; I wanted to be a great guy. Did sharing needed information to
my friend make me a great guy?
Now what if I had not put this guy in my network? My friend would not have received a
needed job and, I would not be a great guy. Most of the time we put people in our network
because of their personality, what they do for us. However, ignoring our initial request does not
mean additional information from this person would not be helpful down the road.