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Networking can be one of those intimidating words that can feel kind of impersonal and
kind of smarmy like a car salesman. What networking is, it's all about making connection. And
here's a couple of tips. One: You want to make connection anywhere and everywhere. Networking
doesn't happen at big events, it actually happens in our day-to-day life. Whether it
be walking our dog or standing in line grabbing coffee, at the grocery line. Anywhere that
you have something in common with the person standing next to you is an opportunity to
network. And instead of thinking the word "network", think "get to know you". It's like,
"Hey, I see that you are ordering the same, you know, thing that I am, don't you love
this particular blah blah blah?" Anytime you have an opportunity to ask a question and
have something in common, you have a relationship upon which to build. And that is the basis
of networking. So you need to do it everywhere, you need to ask questions about people. And
then last but not least, you need to let people know that you're looking for opportunity.
Sometimes when it comes to our career we've got the got-it-all-together disease. We're
afraid to tell people that we're looking for a job, we're looking for an opportunity, we've
just been laid off. You know, you really do have to put it out there, otherwise people
don't know that you need something from them. And this person who's walking his dog may
have the perfect job for you but unless you say, "I'm looking for a job", you're never
gonna know it. That's how you network.