How I overcame my networking 'woes' [Warning: Shameless self-promotion]
As I mentioned in class one day, I volunteered with the WLU Career Centre this year. One of my duties was to publish an article for the 'Career Forward' newsletter for the month of April. For those that are maybe unaware, the newsletter is emailed to all WLU students at the beginning of each month and usually have information about upcoming events, workshops, and articles written by support peers (like me!).
In the second half of this course, many of our discussions and presentations have surrounded topics relating to job searching, networking, and social platforms such as LinkedIn, drawing on Illana Gershon's book, Down and out in the new economy: How people find (or don't find) work today. I wrote the Career Forward article before the assigned readings, but I found myself relating to much of what Gershon was writing about in terms of networking and utilizing LinkedIn from my own experiences this year.
Like many of you, I am graduating and have been using LinkedIn more than ever to make new connections and maintain older ones. After connecting with a Laurier alumnus, I attempted to attend a networking event in Toronto that they would be speaking at, but the Six got the better of me. However, I learned a lot from that experience, both about myself and networking, and I'd encourage you to read the article and let me know what you think - I'd love your feedback!
After reading Chapter 3 of Gershon's book, I realized that my article focused more on the second mode of networking that Gershon addresses: networking to manage risk. This mode, in my opinion, focuses on a more targeted approach, which I advocate for in the article. What do you think are the benefits to a more accumulated approach to networking where one tries to make as many connections as possible?
Oh, and feel free to connect with me!
In the second half of this course, many of our discussions and presentations have surrounded topics relating to job searching, networking, and social platforms such as LinkedIn, drawing on Illana Gershon's book, Down and out in the new economy: How people find (or don't find) work today. I wrote the Career Forward article before the assigned readings, but I found myself relating to much of what Gershon was writing about in terms of networking and utilizing LinkedIn from my own experiences this year.
Like many of you, I am graduating and have been using LinkedIn more than ever to make new connections and maintain older ones. After connecting with a Laurier alumnus, I attempted to attend a networking event in Toronto that they would be speaking at, but the Six got the better of me. However, I learned a lot from that experience, both about myself and networking, and I'd encourage you to read the article and let me know what you think - I'd love your feedback!
After reading Chapter 3 of Gershon's book, I realized that my article focused more on the second mode of networking that Gershon addresses: networking to manage risk. This mode, in my opinion, focuses on a more targeted approach, which I advocate for in the article. What do you think are the benefits to a more accumulated approach to networking where one tries to make as many connections as possible?
Oh, and feel free to connect with me!
Well, I think that a quality over quantity approach to networking offers you the opportunity to make a more memorable impression with someone. Obviously, these kinds of connections are the ones that are most beneficial to you, professionally.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I think it was in chapter 3 of Gershon's book where she said that people make many weak connections in an effort to get to the centre of a network and essentially bypass the sheer number of resumes that hiring managers are flooded with, so I understand why some people strive to make as many connections as possible. Despite this, I feel way more comfortable making fewer strong connections and in my experience this approach has gotten me jobs so I'm going to keep rolling with it!
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