Comments on: Uncomfortable Networking

By: Fun Networking | Career Management Alliance Blog

Fun Networking | Career Management Alliance Blog — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:16:57 +0000

[...] JibberJobber Blog. Posted under Networking on June 26th, 2009 As a followup to my post Uncomfortable Networking (which got tweeted and shared a lot more than I would have guessed), let me throw out another job [...]

By: JibberJobber Blog » Blog Archive » Fun Networking

JibberJobber Blog » Blog Archive » Fun Networking — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:31:24 +0000

[...] a followup to my post Uncomfortable Networking (which got tweeted and shared a lot more than I would have guessed), let me throw out another job [...]

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:02:56 +0000

Hi, Jason,

Thank you for sharing your experience of networking and how you overcame both your reluctance and lack of “know how.” Tonight, I am going to share your post with my Savvy Job Search class I teach at my church! It will be a good discussion starter about how to address ways to ease into networking, shift your mindset, be responsible for learning how to network professionally…and get out there and do it.

~Kathy

By: Louise Kursmark, author & executive resume writer

Louise Kursmark, author & executive resume writer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:31:48 +0000

Jason, that’s a great point – so many people feel uncomfortable, queasy, nervous, etc., in situations that will put them in the spotlight or in “forced” interactions with people they don’t know. “Suck it up and just do it” is not always palatable advice, but sometimes we have to speak sternly to ourselves! And always – like most things that we dread – it turns out to be MUCH less painful than we anticipate. Thanks for sharing your own experiences and how “making” yourself do something you were uncomfortable with turned out to be so beneficial.

By: John Weber

John Weber — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:48:28 +0000

I concur with this. I have made a serious effort to go to every monthly meeting of my professional group since January and have found that I am recognizing people and people are recognizing me. I am open to any “out of the box” or uncomfortable ideas. I’m also checking for other places to meet up with people.

As they say, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

By: bill

bill — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:09:08 +0000

I agree that one should go beyond his/her comfort zone to network with others. However, one thing I learned from my own experience (and confirmed by academic research) is that the best network is done via shared activities — i.e. you participate in some activities that you’ve a genuine interest, and form bonding with other participants.

For example, let’s say you love to play squash and joined a local squash club. The chance is that you’ll make a few friends quickly, and some of them might be helpful to your career in addition to be your squash partner.

By: Malcolm

Malcolm — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:56:20 +0000

Sometimes in life to get ahead you have to be willing to try things you do not normally do. It is an important part of growing.