The Power of Authentic Networking: From Casual Encounters to Genuine Connections

In this enlightening episode of Coffee and Career Hour, we unravel the myths surrounding networking and show you how every casual encounter—whether at a neighborhood party or a local store—can turn into an opportunity for meaningful connection. You'll walk away with a fresh perspective on how to integrate a networking mindset into your daily life, making each interaction an occasion to learn and grow.

We also dive into the cultural barriers that make asking for help a challenge, especially in a society that values independence. As independent women who have navigated these waters, we share our own stories of hesitation and the eventual rewards of reaching out. Learn how leveraging old acquaintances and modern platforms like LinkedIn can unlock doors to unexpected opportunities. We use real-life examples to highlight the transformative impact of approaching potential mentors or colleagues with openness and positivity.

Finally, discover the profound importance of building genuine relationships through networking. We go beyond the superficial elevator pitch, emphasizing the value of openness and transparency in creating deeper connections. Using the metaphor of a garden, we detail how investing time and effort into nurturing close connections can enrich every aspect of your life. You'll find that networking, when tailored to your unique personality and industry, can become a natural and enjoyable part of your journey.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:22

Welcome back everybody. Welcome back to Coffee and Career Hour. Ironically, neither one of us has coffee today.

Speaker 2: 0:28

I was just going to say that I'm drinking tea and you're drinking water.

Speaker 1: 0:32

Yeah, but know that we have coffee in our souls and we're always ready to share a cup with you over an episode, yes, always.

Speaker 2: 0:44

Okay, what are we talking about?

Speaker 1: 0:46

about, we're talking about networking I this topic, I think is, is like a tried and true almost when you think of career development, because it's something that a lot of people allude to, when you're getting advice or you're either talking to someone else or you're trying to find something new or learn, networking is one of those underlying, fundamental things that you just have to do, even when you're not even realizing it. You're doing it sometimes. I will share with you all. Personally, I hate it. Well, hold on, maybe a little less now, but as someone who did not grow up with family, understanding what the professional world was and having networking being one of the first like office appropriate professional words that I heard, that you had to do, that freaked me out so.

Speaker 1: 1:32

I hated it because I thought I had to, like, always look professional, wear like a pantsuit all the time, have this fancy title. So I had a really not great, not positive connotation. My mindset really wasn't there when, I first heard it now it's funny because I teach students community building. But we'll get into that, because I use that as a replacement of networking itself yeah, yeah, no, you're not alone.

Speaker 2: 1:57

I mean, I don't know anybody. Like no one's ever said I love networking.

Speaker 1: 2:02

No, I feel like business people like I don't know, like thinking about people who love kind of like this I don't know who like do it every day yeah, I mean there are, there's definitely people that networking comes naturally too, but I would say it's like an acquired skill that's true, it is, it is really a skill it's just like everything, like building a resume, learning how to write an effective one, interviewing All of those are skills that we develop.

Speaker 2: 2:29

Same goes for networking. But I think we all growing up have this big scary idea about networking because we think it has to be done in a certain way, in a certain setting. Like when you're saying the pantsuit, I'm also thinking like a networking event or a conference, where everybody's there for that sole purpose and everybody's just like strategizing who do I talk to, how do I say this, how do I present myself? And sure, that's one way of networking is like going to a conference or going to a networking event, and it's it's a very effective way, but that is not the only way.

Speaker 1: 3:06

so today, what we want to actually talk about is networking as a mindset yeah, having a networking mindset is so important, but you, it's not something that you kind of like wake up and have, or you really do develop it over time and there's going to be peaks, um, and there's going to be lows or valleys, whatever you want to call it.

Speaker 1: 3:26

When it comes to it, and it really depends on your experience and how it's portrayed. For me, it was something that I really didn't like, especially as an introverted person where I gather energy and I get energized by being by myself. Being in a room full of people and the whole purpose is to introduce yourself to 70% freaks me the hell out and it's something that's uncomfortable. But where I've shifted my mindset to think about is my goal. I mean, you can put a goal for yourself, but I always think like I want to meet five people and I want to connect with them beyond just their name and their title. So I always try to find where it comes to what can I learn from these people? Not as a benefit wise, because networking also has that connotation where you're getting a benefit or you're benefiting someone yeah, right people usually use it as like oh, talk to so-and-so, like.

Speaker 1: 4:16

A silly, exaggerated example is talk to Armin it, armin, it can get you a job. Yeah, yeah, that's not true, right? Um, it really depends on how you walk into something too, and sometimes you don't even know you're walking into a networking opportunity definitely, yeah.

Speaker 2: 4:33

That brings us to the whole topic of, like, networking happens everywhere all the time? Yeah, um, because it is really not. It happens more so outside of networking events. Then you know, most people don't go to networking events, especially if you're no longer in school. When you're in school, the career center usually puts on an event or a student organization puts on an event, and you have that setup and space to go and some people choose to go, some don't. Um, either way is fine. But when you're no longer in a school environment, it's a lot harder to go to networking events, unless you're in a professional organization and you're active in that organization or you go to their conferences, maybe every once in a while, but for the most part I don't really hear the general population talking about going to networking events.

Speaker 1: 5:19

No, I think it happens more like at a neighborhood party, right happens more like at a neighborhood party, right. Like if you're friends with your neighbors and they invite you over for a barbecue or um, this is. You're gonna think this is insane, but the other day I was sitting, I was talking to someone on the weekend. I just happened to run into them at the store. We picked out the same, we were looking at the same thing and we started talking about why we liked so and so it was like one item. And then eventually the conversation came out of like what do you do? And then the person was like would you mind talking to my daughter? Like what they could do with um, ironically, they were interested in psychology for their major and that's kind of where it is. And the person worked in healthcare and it was like really cool because I got to learn something new and they made a new connection. So I was just going to HomeGoods and then, what do you know? Now I'm going to talk to some lady's daughter.

Speaker 2: 6:09

Yeah, exactly Similar thing happened to me. I was at a car dealership.

Speaker 1: 6:14

Oh, I love it yeah.

Speaker 2: 6:16

And the person selling us the car was sharing how this is just a temporary job and they're trying to figure out what they want to do long term maybe something in business. And sure enough, we were like, well, I'm a career counselor, so it's in those kinds of settings where you have a conversation with someone you connect on maybe something completely different, and then it brings you to that space where you're like this is what I'm interested in. And then you never know, Maybe that person works at a company that they can refer you to to get an interview, or they know someone who works there. We've talked about the six degrees of separation before. Yeah, absolutely. We want to share what that is. If you have heard our podcast, if you're one of our regular listeners, you probably heard about it. But just to refresh everyone's memory, the six degrees of separation started with Kevin Bacon.

Speaker 1: 7:10

Which I have no idea still who this is. I have a concept now, but not really clear.

Speaker 2: 7:16

Yeah he's an actor from you know, maybe a couple decades ago, where he was more popular, but Kevin Bacon had this concept where, like every buddy he knows, is like somehow connected to him within six degrees of separation.

Speaker 2: 7:39

Yeah, within six people, right. So it's like a friend of a friend network. Maybe that person that can refer you to a job or get you an interview is literally six people away from you. So with you talking to your neighbor, talking to somebody at the grocery store, talking to you know different people, you get closer to that person that might actually have a big impact on your career.

Speaker 1: 8:05

Yeah, a lot of times too, people, I think here in the US. Well, I mean, yes, I do think here in the US we're trained to do stuff independently, right, we're trained to do everything on your own, figure it out. And then a lot of individuals who come, who have migrated here from different countries as well their first-generation children also have that mindset. I got to figure out, got to navigate whatever system this is. So we don't like to really ask for help a lot unless we, you know, and maybe in our childhood we're trained differently I was not, and Armin is shaking her head. So we both are two independent women who are stubborn and like to try to figure out things on our own, and asking for help is not necessarily a weakness, something we're working on.

Speaker 1: 8:51

But what is my point here is that sometimes reaching out to someone can get you a degree closer to whatever, whatever opportunity that you don't even know. That's there, which has happened since, which we'll talk about in a whole other episode. But you should not be afraid to reach out to people who you know, right? If you follow Armin on Instagram and you see that she does do one-on-one career coaching, she can help you land your dream interview. She can help you clean up your resume that you've been looking at for months now. Why not reach out? You have no idea if the opportunity you are looking at she may know someone there right a lot of the time. This is um a mere example of how close or how far an opportunity can be yeah, definitely, what you have to do is reach out.

Speaker 2: 9:37

Yeah, definitely, I. On that note, I was working with a client recently who ended up landing a job. So exciting, so happy for them. But you know, a career counselor also can't work magic either. Right, it is a working relationship, but aside from career counselors, right? Yes, maybe a career counselor can help you with some of those actual practical steps you need to take or work on your mindset or give you motivation. Those are all things that come with the package of career counseling.

Speaker 2: 10:09

But other people too, like people you've known in school. Another example remember when we were going to put on a panel for work and I reached out to somebody I knew from high school? Oh, yeah, yeah, for the insurance finance industry, this person I know from high school. I wouldn't say we're friends, right, it's not like we're in each other's lives right now, but I do have them on my social media. We used to be friends in high school and I could have thought to myself like, should I reach out? Should I not? Like we haven't really talked in a while.

Speaker 2: 10:43

But I was like you know what? What do I have to lose? I, I'm putting on an event at work and I need somebody in this industry and they're very so it's it's it's a two way thing. This person is very active on their social media about the industry they work in. They show that they're passionate, they love what they do. So I wouldn't have known that unless they were demonstrating that right on their social media and Thankfully they said yes and I was able to invite them to be at the work event and that's how it works, right? It's like you know somebody, maybe from your past, or you have somebody on your social media that you're not necessarily in communication with on a regular basis, but it never hurts to reach out. I always tell my students and my clients what's the worst that can happen. Say they don't respond and that's really hard right.

Speaker 1: 11:34

I always tell my students and my clients is what's the worst that can happen. Say, they don't respond and I and that's really hard, right, like, because sometimes you're sitting there at the screen and you're like, okay, I'm going to LinkedIn, I'm going to email, I'm going to, I'm going to text, right, whatever that is, and you get stuck and you're like, well, how, like, what is? You don't know what could happen, right, the uncertainty is there, so why not do it anyway? It's a 50-50 chance they could respond, they could not, they could respond, and maybe in six weeks, and maybe in six weeks it's a better timing than it is now.

Speaker 2: 12:03

Oh, 100% yeah, and nine times out of 10, like, if they don't respond, it definitely has nothing to do with you, it's not a personal thing.

Speaker 1: 12:12

People aren't there being like, oh, I'm gonna message me on linkedin, ignore, that's not. That's not what happens. And the thing to remind people, too, is that not everyone uses social media the same and as as often as other people too. So, like you and I could be active on social media every other day, every day, but that doesn't mean the whole world is too exactly. So keep in mind that when you like, think about, before you even put yourself in that situation how are you walking into this, right? Are you walking into it?

Speaker 1: 12:43

We use the growth mindset, and with a limited mindset. Are you walking to it with there's four walls around it? This is what's going to happen, or this is what you anticipate is going to happen? Um, this is what's going to happen or this is what you anticipate is going to happen? Or are you walking with it, walking into it with an unlimited amount of ability? Right? You can pick anything from this garden and anything could happen, because you have no idea what could happen. So your mindset is really important when you're thinking about this, because it also translates in how you connect with the other person, right? If I'm nervous or if I feel like Armine is not going to respond to me on LinkedIn and she feels some type of where my message doesn't come across as I hope it is. She's also going to feel that too and she might not connect with me the way in which I'm hoping. Or if we have a Zoom conversation or a phone call, whatever that is, that could also translate too Definitely.

Speaker 2: 13:32

The energy seeps through screens and phones and everything.

Speaker 2: 13:36

So you want to go in with more of a positive energy and an authentic energy only reaching out if you genuinely want to connect yeah I think that's where that energy um shift happens is like if you're forcing yourself to connect with someone just to like check a box off and say I tried to network, it's really not going to go anywhere, the conversation's not going to flow, it's not really going to be what you're expecting. It's reaching out to the people that you genuinely want to connect with because maybe they're in the industry of your toys or they inspire you in some way. Right, like you felt, like maybe you could learn something from this person. So it's going into those situations first, like assessing why are you reaching out to this person? Don't do it because you're checking off a box no, absolutely not, it's really, it's so.

Speaker 1: 14:25

I I feel it because I've been asked before to connect with people and I feel the like I'm just connecting with you because and I've had this a lot with like people who know people who know me yeah Well, they'll be like oh, talk to Maria Jose, maria Jose, she has a degree. Like I find this a lot in my, my Latino community. They're like oh, maria Jose has a degree, she knows, she's works at UCLA, she's going to be fine, she be like oh, I'm just.

Speaker 1: 14:55

I just wanted to know if you could do so, and so, oh, yeah, you do okay, and then I'll never hear from them again. Yeah, and it's a very awkward situation because you have, like, either the person on the other end, who's like me I'm willing to bend over backwards to help anyone. That's just like what we do, that's our nature. But it feels awkward and it doesn't reciprocate as you would like when someone's connecting. So if you're forcing yourself to have that connection or you're just like not ready, maybe it's time to like, take a pause and try it with someone who you're more excited with, or who you're who inspires you, or someone you're more familiar with. Or practice it's okay to practice too.

Speaker 2: 15:28

Oh yeah, a hundred percent. Like I said, it's an acquired skill, right? So the only way you're going to develop the skill is through practice and trying out, like sending out different messages right? If we're thinking of LinkedIn or other social media platforms, sending out different messages and seeing like which one works, maybe that yields better results. But at the end of the day, like LinkedIn or social media is not the only way to network, right? That's just one tool. But I would say networking is a mindset. So if you're, if you don't have the right mindset about networking, linkedin is not going to work for you either. Nothing will. So it's really shifting your mindset to like everybody that you connect with or you talk to is an opportunity to build that network.

Speaker 1: 16:11

Yeah, I love that you said that because it's so. Let me tell you guys a little bit of a it's not a story because it happened. It's happened to me various times. There'll be times where we're in situations where we have to connect with people and I'll just stop at, like, my name and my title and I won't say anything else and I'll rely on the other person to talk. But I've realized how important it is to not so. I always walk out, whatever. If it's a Saturday, if it's a Monday and I'm working from home, if I'm going to the office, I am MJ, this is what I do. I'm always going to be that person of me because it I feel more stressed when I have to act like the non, the non-professional or the non-office or the opposite of when I'm connecting with people and that that triggers the conversation to go in a different direction than it is.

Speaker 1: 17:06

What I'm trying to say is that when you're doing this, try something new. I have always been like oh hi, my name, this is my name, my title, my name, my title, and it's awesome. I'm very proud of it, but it's not really me. Um, it's not. It's like, it's like gross at a point in time because I'm like it's so gross, it's such an american, american thing to do. Like here's my name and my title, what I do for work. Um, yeah, and it's something different, right, like because people don't connect with that right?

Speaker 2: 17:35

Yeah, you want to have a conversation where you connect with the person. Absolutely On something else, and then eventually it gets to the point where it's like oh yeah, what do you do for work? Oh yeah, oh my gosh, Whatever, Like, I've been wanting to do this. And then that's where the conversation kind of leads to more like the professional world.

Speaker 1: 17:54

I'll give you the most wildest example and I swear to God, this is so true to me, this is so true. I was at Ulta Ulta is a beauty store and the cashier was wearing I had the cashier, the cashier and I had the same dress. We were not wearing it, but I had the dress and I commented and I was like, oh my gosh, is that dress from XYZ store? And they're like, yeah, I got it. And I was like, yeah, it's from last summer season. And we started talking, talking, talking, talking. There was no line behind me, so it was fine and we ended up. She ended up asking me like you know, whatcla recommended the friend to come see me at the career center 100.

Speaker 2: 18:41

Yeah, it just didn't that happen to you with the coffee shop too that happens to me all the time.

Speaker 1: 18:46

That happened to me at a restaurant, like last year. I was at a restaurant and the waitress, um, the waitress was walking. I was late. I was late to an event well, it was uh long, so sure was my cousin's event and I was there giving him, I was dropping something off, and the waitress I was like, oh, I always ask people how they're doing, but that's just in our nature, you know.

Speaker 1: 19:09

And I was like, oh, hi, she's, you know, to tell you the truth, like I'm really, really stressed, and I was like, oh, no, like you know, like is everything okay? And then I was like, um, you know, this is like a busy night. She's like, no, like I'm in school, I go to ucla, it's like finals, oh my god. I started laughing. And she's like, she just kind of looked at me and I was like I'm laughing because I work at ucla. And she was like a um, poly, sci major, and she was wanting to apply to law school. Oh my god, it was insane. And then she's like wait, what? You work at ucla? And we ended up talking for like 20 minutes. So it happens to me a lot.

Speaker 2: 19:39

Yeah, um, I mean, of course no, you know what, as you're sharing this like, what I'm thinking about is it actually really boils down to just communication and being able to talk to people. Yeah, that's what networking is like. To bring it to its most basic form, it's just an ability to talk to people. It's not an ability to showcase yourself. I know, like we talk about elevator pitch and things like that, which it has its place. Like if you're going to a structured networking event where you have like 60 seconds to talk to somebody and then you have to rotate. An elevator pitch has its place, um, or like to just to know how to introduce yourself or bring it up in a conversation. It's great. But really, at its most basic form, networking is your ability to talk to people absolutely I.

Speaker 1: 20:39

I couldn't agree with you more because I think we're trained to do that, that like 30 seconds to a minute pitch of like who we are and what's the best version of ourselves and show people that. But it's really connecting with someone because, at the end of the day, networking the goal is to build a relationship. It's up to you to determine what you want that relationship to be right. You and I could simply be colleagues, right, and then just keep it at that box and in that networking opportunity.

Speaker 1: 21:06

But it goes beyond that where you're like oh, my friend, oh here, oh here, whatever I know, this restaurant, whatever. That is right. There's so many different things and it's such a beautiful way to connect with others because we're so trained to think about it as like a work-related or professional setting type of thing, but it's really like finding out hey, arminie, I'm married. What was the venue you used? Right, like that's networking and it's all about how you connect with the world around you and different experiences and situations.

Speaker 2: 21:36

Yeah, I love that how you connect with the world around you and, I think, how you see the world around you.

Speaker 2: 21:39

Because when you're talking about like, when you said like we could keep our relationship to a box right of like we're colleagues, our relationship to a box right of like um, we're colleagues, I remember when I was younger I used to actually keep like my life separate. My school friends were separate from my home friends and like people in my home environment were like it was like two different worlds for me. Right, I would never talk about what was going on at home. Uh, in school, like when I was in middle school, my mom had cancer, she had breast cancer, and sometimes I think I'm like I never told any of my friends like that was the degree of like keeping things my world separate. But obviously that's like the complete opposite of not working and and the way that I see the world now because everybody's connected and we're all connected to each other. So if you see your life separate in categories like that, it's going to be really hard to network.

Speaker 1: 22:35

Absolutely. An example that I'm thinking about for you, too, is when you recently became a mom, yeah, and how you connected with other moms in the building and on the team.

Speaker 2: 22:46

Oh yeah, definitely. I didn't think twice about asking, uh my colleagues who I knew I had recently had babies, like how they navigated their the maternity leave process or anything else in general. I mean, I learned a lot from them too, so and that like built another level of relation, like a friendship with them. That is new now because we, uh we connected on becoming parents, you know.

Speaker 1: 23:11

Yeah, I think to this generation whatever generation is in this coming there's like also this level of transparency. Like I, I feel that the students I mean I can't speak for students 10 years ago cause I wasn't a counselor 10 years ago, but I don't know, I'm going to correct me if I'm wrong Like students just are just years ago because I wasn't a counselor 10 years ago, but I don't know I'm going to correct me if I'm wrong like students just are just their walls come down a lot easier and and they're much more human yeah, to my surprise.

Speaker 2: 23:35

You know. I remember when we were, like I was in grad school, we're learning counseling and everything, and um, like even during internships or in class when we would talk about case studies, uh, I would always like think that students wouldn't open up as much. But then over the years I remember working at Cal State, la. I was running a program on students who were on academic probation and my colleague and I who were running that program, we thought that they were going to be so much more closed and hesitant about sharing, especially because it was in a group setting. But they were so open. That was like my first like realization oh my gosh, they're actually a lot more open than I expected. And then come to all the other places I've worked at, like UCLA as well. Sometimes you ask one question and students are like more than willing to share, and I love that. That's a good thing. It kind of shows more of like that open culture that I guess is becoming more and more the norm now.

Speaker 1: 24:34

Yeah, and you can, you, I think too, it's not to be fully transparent right. You're not sharing every detail, you're not telling me what you did on the weekend and I'm using that as a sarcastic example, because I've had students do that. I'm like okay onto the resume, but it's also knowing like it's okay to be open in certain spaces and being your whole self is also including different parts of you, because if not, then you're not your whole self.

Speaker 2: 24:59

Yeah, exactly, you're like a faded color yeah, and you know, I do want to preface this with, like you don't have to do this with every single person you have to like kind of vet out like the energy that you feel from that person.

Speaker 2: 25:11

If you do feel comfortable, then that means maybe there is some level of connection there that you can build off of. But if you're feeling like it's forced, there is really no like connection with this person. You don't definitely you don't have to be trying to share your life with this person or trying to even network with them.

Speaker 1: 25:29

Yeah, think about it this way I always use the example. So when we talk about networking anywhere, I always, I always use the example of a garden. Think about a garden. So think about those who are in your network, those people who you're close to, people who like like, for example, myself, I can think about like four mentors that I can call and be like hey, I'm having a really hard day.

Speaker 1: 25:50

Or, um, I can think about different colleagues that I can touch upon or past individuals in my life and those are people who I consider close in my garden. Those think about as your plants. So those are your flowers, your different plants that are growing, those are your fruits, vegetables, whatever that is. Think about people who are beyond that and maybe that you meet once, twice, you see every other year, or once or twice at a conference, as the grass beyond that. So you want to have your network to be a variety of different individuals, those who you're closer to you're going to check on a lot more. You're going to water a little bit more often. You're going to come and check in on them, you're going to call them, you're going to let them know how you're doing and the grass you're going to water every so often, like once, once every two weeks, but the plants you're going to do once a week yeah, think about it that way.

Speaker 2: 26:36

Yeah, I think that's a great metaphor and I'm now thinking in that sense. Um, sometimes students will ask like, okay, how do I maintain my relationship? Right, let's say, once I graduate, how do I maintain a relationship with professors or students that I'm not going to regularly interact with, but I want to maintain that relationship. What do you tell your students?

Speaker 1: 27:00

Yeah, and we're getting that recently because students are graduating this week, so exciting, yeah it's. It's a huge. It's a huge thing for 10,000 of them. Um, what I always tell them is that so no, you're going to be in a different place, right to be in a different place, right? So being in a different place already separates you and it makes that connection feel a little bit more awkward because you're no longer in the same space that you met. You're no longer seeing them on a routinely basis.

Speaker 1: 27:25

But what does that look like for you? So, if that looks like what feels most natural to you, if not, if calling someone every other week or sending an email every two weeks doesn't feel natural to you, don't do that. Yeah, right. If it is reaching out on LinkedIn once a week and just giving a small update or checking on that person, I would say once a week is a little too much. Yeah, but it all depends on your type of relationship, right? Like you, I text you at least once a week. Oh, yeah, and and that's different whereas maybe a previous colleague or mentor, someone who I'm connecting with, I'll let them know, like, once a month, how I'm doing, what's going on a challenge that I faced and what their opinion is or something that happened.

Speaker 1: 28:08

So I'd say is don't lose it right away and don't wait too long to reach back out after it's been. So if you're graduating, if you're transitioning to a new job, if you're starting something new, don't wait six months before you reach out again. It's been a long time. And if it is, take a long not a long time, but take when you're connecting with that person. Make it more meaningful than a 20-minute phone call. If that's all you can do, do it. But if you can go out to lunch, go out for coffee, see them in person, connect in that human way, that's going to be a lot better and it's going to maintain that relationship rather than like a small message or an email. Yeah, you want to feel that human connection back in and feed it into that relationship percent, hundred percent, the in person if possible is kind of takes it.

Speaker 2: 28:55

You know there's more opportunity to connect on a human level in that sense, but um one so I would add to that is that there is no like actual formula. Right, you have to connect every certain number of days, like. That's not how it works. It is going to vary by relationship, but it's also going to kind of just vary on what's going on in your life. If you're facing the challenge at work, that's an opportunity to talk to, that connect with people.

Speaker 2: 29:23

If you are, if something comes out in the news I always tell my students this that's related to your industry, that's a perfect opportunity to reach out to your people who are in that same field and be like what do you guys think about this? And have a conversation. But I always say to like. Sometimes it's not even just about messaging that person individually, it's posting about it on your LinkedIn or other, even other social media platforms. You post about like, let's say, you're looking for a new job, or you just got hired, or you just got promoted, or you just graduated, whatever it is. It's about sharing your story and that still keeps you like in those people's minds, yeah, even if you're not having a one-on-one conversation with them.

Speaker 2: 30:08

I can't tell you how many times I've posted something and then people will reach out and be like oh my gosh, like something related to career counseling. Oh my gosh, yeah, do you want to like present to my class? Or something like that. Had I not posted, they would not remember that I'm doing this work.

Speaker 1: 30:22

Yeah, A hundred percent. I think sharing I like that. You said that sharing your story, sharing your name, sharing what you're doing is really important. I know that it we we live in a society where we like it's social media scene where we live for like the likes and the connection, not the connections, like the interactions that people give us with the attention. But it's really about sharing more than just that. Right Like you are doing this in the longterm and you want to look alive in your career, not silent, and LinkedIn is an opportunity. It's one platform where you can do that. A lot of people have also taken to Instagram, too, because it's an easier way to connect with others and gain information as well. So find what works for you, too. I love that you said that you have to find what works. You have to find your groove with people, too, because it is natural to drift away. It's natural get a degree right, a separate one degree from one another. It's up to you to figure out how you come closer again yeah.

Speaker 2: 31:22

So, with that said, we want to leave you all with finding your groove with networking. It's kind of going to look different for each person, based on your own personality and your own preferences and maybe even the industry that you're in. Right, but, with that said, like networking is a mindset, it all boils down to connecting with people and being able to have a basic conversation with somebody and shifting your mindset. Um, in the sense that networking is not this big scary thing where you have to go in a structured environment all dressed up. It's more of something that happens in your daily life with everybody around you.

Speaker 1: 32:01

Absolutely, and we always encourage you to reach out to people who you know. That's always one way. Your first degree right, your first degree of connections is going to be an easier way to kind of get to know others as well. And if that doesn't work, try something new.