Anytime a major conference or event like NACDA is on the horizon, I start thinking strategy. It’s not that I’m looking to make a big splash or find a new job, but at my most basic form, I am a prepper. I’m always looking for a new tool or technique. Just as important, I’m always looking to challenge my own assumptions. Like, for years I have been told to build my network because those weak relationships are key to new opportunities.
That’s why this article in the Harvard Business Review caught my eye.
The old theory made sense. You’ll never find a new job if you only focus on the people in your immediate vicinity. Your family and friends mostly operate in the same circles you do, so there is not much they have access to that you don’t.
But more and more we’re seeing that change, and as the author points out, current and former coworkers are becoming the successful link for new job applicants. And again, this makes sense.
We live in a world where a simple Google search can give you anyone’s resume, accolades, and even a basic background check. Social media, and especially LinkedIn have changed the way we look at potential employees. Because all of our technical abilities are on full display, stored in multiple databases and often easy to search and sort, soft skills have become a larger focus of our concern.
Furthermore, business culture is no longer strictly business. The West Coast tech revolution also changed the way people dress and carry themselves in an office environment. More than ever, cultural fit has become a factor for both employers and employees.
I would argue that most of you reading this have no idea what kind of coworker your mother or father was. The only way to truly know what someone is like at work is to work with them.
As many of you take off for Orlando in the next few days or travel out to some other networking event, don’t discount the relationships you will create there. As the Harvard Business Review states, those people still account for 17% of reported success. But, the most important networking you can do is with the person in the office next to you, and you should build those relationships with one question in mind.
What kind of coworker are you?