Networking Sluts

Today I read a tweet link about how finding a job is basically all about networking. This is also something my 24-year-old brother (who believes he knows everything about everything) always tells me. On the one hand I completely agree, really you are not going to get anywhere if you don’t go out and meet people. From my job hunting experience so far I have learned you can email your resume to potential “new bosses” everyday, but usually it just falls on deaf ears. Or in my case, "deaf" inboxes. If you don’t know anyone or unless you have a resume that makes you SO overqualified or unique you jump out of their computer and punch your potential boss in the face, you end up getting hit with the delete key.

On the other hand, I sometimes feel, going to networking events is a waste of time. If you go to more than one networking event where usually the same people are you begin to look like a networking slut. When I can, I attend Social Media Club (SMC) of Seattle's monthly get togethers and am part of a public relations book club and have attended a few other events here and there. Don’t get me wrong I have met some people who have been very useful to me in one way or another; Tony, my graphic designer friend for instance. But for the most part I find these networking events to be sometimes tedious and a waste of my time. Plus, unless you are fully and one hundred percent skilled in the words of Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influnce People," you probably will not be as successful at these events as you or Dale Carnegie would have hoped.

I know your thinking, “well, Britt if you are not going to go to events why are you complaining about not having a job?” I’m not saying that, what I am saying, is I don’t find networking and networking events all that easy to be at. For the most part people with jobs at networking events know the only reason you are talking to them is because you don’t have a job, especially in this current economy. I went to the January SMC event, obviously jobless, where a guy had a sign on his back that said “Job hunter.” I bet this was not his first event and he is probably part of the group of networking sluts I spoke of earlier.

So I ask, how are you supposed to network without looking to desperate? It’s almost as if they should have speed dating for job hunters, no not a job fair, something more professional. Employers would line up and each would get three minutes to speak with “potential” candidates. After the event is over if they liked you, everyone would exchanges info and you would come in for a more formal interview. However if the chemistry wasn’t there everyone would go their separate ways. No idol chit chat, no ridiculous “thank you, I had a great time” just wham bam thank you ma'am, you have yourself the job.