When You're Career Planning, Does the Idea of "Networking" Make You Cringe?

You've heard it from your mentors, college counselors, colleagues, friends, and family: when you're career planning, networking is the single-most career planning step that you can take. Especially in this economy, a personal connection can make or break a person's candidacy for a position. Even though it may seem unfair, it's human nature.

As employers and as people, we want to find someone who we would enjoy as colleagues in a professional environment. We're more likely to reach out to our social circles instead of strangers. Developing an awareness of this trend is one of the most important career planning steps that you can take.

"Networking" is a term that many of us throw around when we discuss our professional circles on the Internet and in real life. We think of conferences and professional association gatherings as networking events, and we often employ networking strategies to find our way towards our next big career moves.

Even though networking is something positive, the word comes with plenty of negative connotations. When we think networking, we may think of sleezy and overly-aggressive tactics for building an extensive framework of superficial relationships. Part of this connotation stems from the idea that networking is always about pursuing a hidden agenda.
The negative connotations may dissuade people from networking. After all, career planning and professional relationships depend on more than just "schmoozing."

That's precisely the point. Networking doesn't have to be "sleazy" or "schmoozy," and you don't need to have an agenda when you approach people. The best type of networking isn't just about climbing some sort of theoretical corporate ladder. Instead of trying to get something out of someone, try to think of networking from a more exploratory perspective. If you open your mind, move outside of your comfort zone, and build-high quality relationships—even without an agenda, you're still networking, but you're forming meaningful bonds.

Networking is more than just landing a job. It's about discovering who you are, what you like, and who you can cultivate yourself to be. Talking to others can help you learn skills and perspectives beyond what you do every day on the job. Through networking, you may learn something new, or you may learn something about your interpersonal or professional skills.

You might discover someone who is mentor-material, or you mind become a mentor, yourself.
In the long run, a meaningful bond can help you find a job. You never know when and where a position will open, and you never know who knows whom.

Rethink how you perceive the idea of networking, and cringe a little less. Your professional bonds are valuable, and they are even more valuable when you open your mind and heart.

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