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Networking is harder when you are more junior because your peers don't really see the value yet and frankly it's harder to "network up". Not to say you shouldn't try now - you totally should!
As you progress, you and your peers will move around, meet more people, get promoted and gain decision-making abilities, etc. and the value of networking will be more clear, so people will do it more and more.
TL;DR - I think this is less of a gen Z/sign of the times kind of thing and more of an early career thing.
Those aren’t really what I would call “pretty senior” roles. Tech leadership as an IC starts with staff / principle. For that networking will matter a lot. If you just want to be a code monkey for the rest of your life you’re probably right, networking won’t be critical, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
False. I’ve gotten jobs with >30% TC increase purely with networking. Not so much luck with cold applying. Based off the tone of your post, I’m not sure I would stick my neck out for you either
People I used to work with- not even people I’d say I was friends with, just friendly with when we worked together, had partnered on a few projects with, etc. They’re called weak ties.
https://www.betterup.com/blog/weak-ties-vs-strong-ties
Full 3 years, wow, share more of your wisdom please
Also how many fake accounts do you have? You must truly have nothing better to do with your life if you are maintaining so many fake accounts.
Chief
I'm not Gen Z, at all. But I agree with op on lack of meaningful relationships during these times. People don't give AF anymore about other people. I'm sure there are people who probably aren't experiencing this, but I think they are the minority.
Be more interesting.
OP got no rizz with that attitude! Maybe you’re the problem with all this networking. Be humble, genuine, put effort into relationships, & become less jaded.
😉🫶
False. Literally every job I’ve landed since 2017 including my first client at my dream side gig this past October has been 100% due to networking.
It’s definitely the long game. I remember everyone I’ve worked with and have a list in my head of folks who I’d totally hire/recommend. Doesn’t matter if I haven’t talked to them in a while. They just need to reach out and ask.
Frankly I don’t see this at all, the opposite actually. Networking is work, it’s hard and takes effort, but it’s always paid off and I wouldn’t know how to operate without it.
Pro
This is as wrong as it gets. Lol
I’m also quite convinced that there are a lot of people rejecting this as it invalidates them. Most of whom are career coaches or HR people for whom networking is core to their existence. Pure copium, or coping mechanism for the older folks.
Enthusiast
“Social media” definitely changed things in this regard. The most troubling thing as it pertains to the challenges of meeting aligned people is the failure of LinkedIn to innovate. I have 11,000+ “connections” and rarely does it equate to having a “powerful network”. In the services business we have to rely on referrals, so it’s in that scenario where you see the true power of “having connections.” 🤷🏻♂️ How can we all be more innovative with networking?
Not saying this is you but something to think about… People who struggle at networking usually treat it like this super transactional thing where they ask for stuff and don’t offer anything in return. If you don’t create value in your interactions why would people want to keep in touch?
Good networkers with strong networks are the most successful people I know. They’re also smart, interesting, good at their jobs and usually fun - but the networking ability is one of the keys to their success.
Ex colleagues and former employees of my current company. In these cases, we texted maybe once every 6 months and never met before, respectively. I have former bosses that I talk with anywhere from quarterly, every 6 weeks, every 6 months to everywhere in between
Rising Star
Networking is harder at the Junior levels. The higher up you move, and the more experience you have. The easier it is to network, and the more valuable it becomes.
When I was early on in my career, yeah it didn’t help, but has paid off after over a decade working. I’ve had friends from grad school, friends from former employers contact me for roles etc.
Just be patient (easier said then done)
Networking requires an agenda.
Well typically you’d be networking for job opportunities. But contacting someone (ex-colleague, old grad schoolmates, etc) after a long time of no contact just to ask about job opportunities seem to put them off, like you are using them. But it is also infeasible to maintain regular contact with a large group of people outside close friends and family. Here lies the dilemma.
Knowing the people to know can and does matter. Making a name for yourself can matter. I did used to think networking was dumb and pointless but my field is small enough that I realize now it does matter. But the fake networking bs yes is bs
In the past three years networking has gotten me a 2.5% mortgage rate on my house and my current position
And this is directly associated with networking, not some flimsy secondary implication
Well depending on when he got that rate, his story goes from normal🤷♂️—> impressive😮—> unbelievable😒
Enthusiast
Every job I’ve landed, with the exception of my first job out of college has been due to networking. I even landed a job in a completely new country! I have also referred countless number of ppl. But at the end of the day, it’s a game of probabilities. Will every ex-colleague of yours come through? No. But some will. It is even more as you climb the ladder- and you will see first hand.
Enthusiast
You lost me at “hot take”.
You lost me at “manager”