Thoughts About Networking.
Beware introverts of the world, unfortunately being good at something is not enough.
It has been ten years since I officially entered the professional world, and while I have yet to comprehend why the job market functions as it does, there is one thing I have had to learn to accept: your network is —for the most part— worth more than your skills.
Ask anyone who has been hired for what (on the surface) seems like a dream job, they probably didn’t actively apply for it. Rather, they got the position because they knew somebody within the company, a friend recommended them, or they were the relative of one of the old men on the board of directors. “Nepotism” is transversal.
Often, the vacancies you see advertised on LinkedIn or similar job boards are fulfilled before you even get the chance to submit an application– at times, they are given to someone who is already in the company (it costs them less to hire from within).
The posting is simply a standard procedure enterprises are required to follow for legal reasons, to prove they accept all types of candidates, even if it’s not true.
As disheartening as this may sound to a young person looking for their first job —and I am definitely not trying to brew a generation of social climbers— this system explains why it is so easy to be bamboozled by the glamorous lives our idols portray on social media and spiral downwards as we navigate the creative industry.
I have often found myself asking the question “How did this person get this job?” When I see a mediocre individual sit amongst tastemakers and shot callers. Why them, not me?
Even now, after having earned my stripes and respect in the field, I sometimes tend to disregard my achievements and build temporary resentment towards the gigs I have not been recruited for.
However, it is quite hypocritical for me to raise such a critique without surveying my own experience and observing it from an external point of view.
I, too, am one of those people who have been getting jobs and opportunities because of who I know.
Sure, I do think I am good at what I do and, undeniably, there’s no way someone can stick through something if they are completely shit at it, but talent is not the most relevant part of a person’s career progression.
To prove my point, believe me when I say I haven’t applied for any of the jobs I ended up working since 2013.
Anything that came after my first two professional roles -respectively as an events organizer’s assistant and Carhartt WIP– were either handed or proposed to me by somebody I had met along the way and thought I would be the perfect match for the job. Quite frankly, I do the same thing when I am hiring.
First I scan through my contacts and network, then if nobody is available, I open the search to my outer circle. It’s just easier this way. As humans, we tend to seek the less demanding way to do things, to choose shortcuts that will save us time.
Because of this echo-chamber though, I try to keep myself in check by putting myself out there professionally and try something different: periodically, I go on application sprees at companies where I don’t know a single soul.
It is truly a quirky and masochist habit as I usually have no intention of actually following through with the job, but it’s a good way to stay humble.
More times than not, I get rejected with the same automated message every corporation employs:
Thank you for your application but we decided to move forward with a better suited candidate. We will keep your resume on file and best of wishes for your job hunt.
What is a “better suited candidate” when my CV matches the requirements word by word? Is it somebody you know from a previous job? Your cousin? Somebody with stronger references? We are never provided the right feedback, or told the reason why we weren’t picked. At times, we never even know if they saw our resume because we simply get no answer.
Obviously, this practice is easily a gateway to heightened impostor syndrome and a depressive episode; it triggers the same rollercoaster of emotions you experience when snooping through your toxic boyfriend’s phone and find things you didn’t want to even remotely know.
But as battering as this exercise is, it is also fruitful.
It helps me remember the importance of making a great impression and building meaningful relationships with my peers.
It helps me stay out of my comfort zone and dare to do things unorthodoxly.
Needless to say, it reminds me how crucial it is to lend a hand to those who may not have the same extroverted character as I do and bridge them to their next opportunity.
This is why —as annoying as it is— as an artist or creator of any kind, it is much easier to go places by creating in the public eye. It builds reputation.
People reading this may ask: but what if I am shy and I want to create without having to constantly meet people, make connections and bond with others?
Well, building a network doesn’t only mean being at every event or becoming a social butterfly.
It means needing a couple of valid ties to honest people who see you and your talent for who you are/what it is, instead of conflating the worth of your work with who’s in your social circle.
If even this sounds too daunting, agents exist for a reason.
Thankfully, the internet has democratized the way we communicate, share and connect.
It has become much easier to garner an audience, following and introduce ourselves to those people who could be beneficial to our growth.
Before platforms like Twitter and Instagram were a thing, breaking into the creative industry was much harder; the gatekeepers were hard to get through.
Having the right network rather than a large one is another point to consider.
Being the most popular (enter job title here) may sound enticing, but quality over quantity is a principle that dominates this aspect of life too.
Having a small but impeccable network is better than prostituting ourselves to thousands of people with no substance; most times all you need is one –clutch– person to link you to your next opportunity and it will spark a chain reaction that will propel you to the top – whatever that may mean for you.
I always say networking is unfortunately 70% of our career..but, sadly, the percentage may even be higher than that.
In conclusion, do not be afraid to put yourself out there, to hit strangers up and let them know you exist.
Build trust and expectation, then exceed that expectation. Rinse and repeat.
After a couple of cycles, the path to greatness will be cleared in front of you by others.
A great TEDX talk on how to overcome anxiety and get the results we want, explained seamlessly by Dr. Myron Golden: