If you read enough articles discussing the dos and don’ts of searching for a job, a common thread begins to emerge: networking. A critical issue, the topic of “networking” has been treated by nearly every blog and media outlet that provides job seekers with advice and cover employment-related news. Oftentimes, however, with regard to networking, columnists and employment aficionados spend a great deal of time rehashing the same information or reformulating old advice. Although original contributions are indeed made to the vast corpus that exists that deals with, and spells out this often talked about topic, seemingly, such are far and few between. To be perfectly honest, I cannot claim that what I can provide is any different: alas, I am certain that someone, somewhere, has produced a similar analysis on the topic of networking. However, what I can do is approach the issue of networking from a different angle.
Without a doubt, articles that impart to their readers networking tips are immensely important and helpful for nascent networkers and seasoned professionals alike. For example, an article on Monster College, titled 6 Job Networking Tips for New Grads, is a great resource for inexperienced networkers, instructing new graduates to “show industry passion…make an ‘elevator speech’” and “formulate [their] goals.” In addition, there are a number of tools, such as LinkedIn, which are available to aspiring networkers. However, while tips, such as these, are beneficial, they only provide readers with information about how one should go about networking, not how one should approach the idea of networking. Much in the same way that an understanding of the facts of history must be supplemented by knowledge of different approaches to history (i.e. the different lenses through which history can be viewed and interpreted)—allowing one the ability to see history in light of whichever approach a given historian chose or chooses to employ, an understanding of how one should approach the idea of networking allows one the keen ability to take advantage of networking tips while at the same time having a grand strategy which decides how one goes about implementing those tips.
For example, one tip often given is that one must understand that networking is, at its heart, a matter of quid pro quo, or rather, a “give-and-take experience.” What this tip does not provide, however, is with what kind of attitude or mindset one should approach the networking game (it simply tells you what to expect). That being said, how should one approach networking? Whether you are giving to get, networking through the Net, or rubbing elbows with seasoned professionals at a national conference, it’s best to approach networking economically.
Now, “economical networking” is not the kind of ‘networking’ in which the infamous former Illinois Governor and anti-hero Rod Blagojevich involved himself. When one networks economically, one approaches networking as if it is a rare resource or commodity that must be managed with the utmost diligence and care. Your network is something that requires constant attention and maintenance, without which it will surely begin to crumble and slowly turn to ruins. However, like a fishery, you cannot rely on your network too much. If one over-fishes, a fishery will surely lose it usefulness. It will cease to produce fish because of the irrevocable damage one’s haphazard method of fishing did not only to the species of fish for which one was fishing, but the entire ecosystem of which that fish was part. So too, taking advantage of your network, or expecting too much from contacts, could be quite detrimental and fundamentally impair not only your relationship with that one contact, but your entire network.
Thus, as you read and implement networking tips and strategies be sure to remember that no matter what you do to network, or how you develop your network, approach the overall idea of networking economically—that is, with thought, intention, and purpose.
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