Want to be a better networker? Perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from the experience of two friends.
Joel, the editor of a business magazine, received a call from David, a fellow editor and acquaintance. David’s company was moving his job to another city, and he needed a new one.
David asked if Joel was in the market to hire someone. That’s not necessarily a bad way to network (although there are better approaches, as we’ll discuss). In this case, however, asking Joel whether he might hire him was not wise. It seems David and Joel’s relationship was social, rather than work-based, because the two live literally around the corner from one another. While they are not close friends, they and their families regularly bump into each other in the course of their routines.
Even if an opening existed and even if Joel felt David would be an appropriate candidate, hiring a friend or acquaintance is asking for trouble. Not only is it difficult for peers to enter into an unequal power relationship, it’s awkward not only to be aware of a friend or neighbor’s income but actually to determine it. What if a friend turns out to be a terrible boss? Or an unsatisfactory employee?
Mistake number two: David flat out asked for a job. He put Joel in an awkward position. If there actually is an opening, does Joel treat David the same way as any other candidate? What does he tell David if he wants to hire someone else? Does he tell David he prefers not to hire anyone he knows socially, and risk the chance of ruining their friendship?
Networking is about guidance and assistance. When David called Joel, he simply should have explained his situation, told him about the kind of job he was looking for, and asked Joel to let him know of any job openings he discovers, as well as the names of others David might call. David also could have asked Joel for the name of the recruitment person at Joel’s company – a large publisher – who might know of firm-wide hiring needs. Finally, he also could have asked if Joel would consider using him as a freelance writer during the time he’s looking for a permanent job.
All these approaches would have opened more doors for David – and for other networkers who don’t share this peculiar social dynamic – than merely putting Joel on the spot by asking him for a job. (In fact, when Joel politely asked about the kind of job David was looking for – as a way to get more information – David was curt and said something to the effect that he had years and years of experience and was qualified to do pretty much anything.)
In short, David could have been a more thoughtful networker. In fact, thoughtfulness and consideration – which includes writing thank- you notes, for instance, making follow-up calls and checking up on people when no direct job-hunting is involved – are the characteristics of all successful networkers.
Article – Copyright 2002 Evan Cooper. Syndicated by Paradigm News, Inc.
