How to Meet People Who Can Get You a Job (Anyone Can Do This!)

FutureSkill #8

Alina Okun, Wassily Kandinsky Inspired, Midjourney (2024)

Today, the world is polarized about nearly everything, but there’s one thing that most people agree on:

They hate networking.

It's a puzzling paradox. We live in an age of unprecedented connectivity. Yet, when it comes to making meaningful career connections, we often feel lost and overwhelmed. Why is that?

The Problem with Traditional Networking

Networking feels intimidating. We've all been there: standing awkwardly at a networking event, hoping to strike up a conversation but feeling either uncomfortable or out of place. How do you approach someone who might be in a position to help you? How do you even find these people? 

The good news is you don’t need to be a networking wizard or have a fancy professional background to make valuable connections. You just need to know where to look and how to engage.

Making the right connections can open doors you didn't even know existed. It's not just about landing a job. It's about finding mentors, getting the inside scoop on your chosen field, and discovering opportunities that align with your interests and aspirations. 

Get this right, and you could set yourself up for an exceptional career and life. On the flip side, failing to make these connections could leave you feeling stuck or missing out on incredible opportunities.

Most people try to network by attending industry-specific events or job fairs, hoping to meet someone influential. While these strategies can work, let's be honest - everyone else is doing the same thing. 

On top of it, the pressure at those events is high, and it’s easy to feel like just another face in a sea of people trying to make an impression. These events often focus on titles and positions rather than shared interests or values, making it hard to form genuine connections.

So, how do we solve this modern paradox? The answer lies in a new approach to networking that feels less like work and more like simply living your best life.

A New Approach

Instead of relying on traditional networking methods, try a more natural approach. Meet people in places where titles don’t matter and shared interests take center stage. Are you a music fan? An art buff? A sports nut? Engage in activities you genuinely enjoy, and you might be surprised at the connections you make.

Let me share a real-life example of how this approach worked for my daughter. In high school, she was very interested in sustainability. During her junior year, we went to an event at NYU, and she ended up chatting with a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) from a big consumer products company. They clicked and talked about sustainability for a while without mentioning job titles or career goals.

Fast forward a few months, and my daughter was looking for an internship. She reached out to the CSO, reminding her of their chat and expressing her interest in interning. The company had never offered internships to high school students before, but the CSO was so impressed by their conversation (and desperate for help on some projects) that she worked with her HR department to create a position just for my daughter.

This experience gave my daughter phenomenal industry exposure and allowed her to contribute to some meaningful projects. Even better, the two of them have become friends.

Your Action Plan

Anyone can do this. Here’s how you can make this work for you:

1. Identify Your Interests: Think about what activities or topics genuinely excite you. It could be a hobby, a cause, or something you love learning about. 

2. Attend Events or Join Groups: Look for events, clubs, or online communities that match your interests. These could be local meetups, conferences, online forums, or social media groups.

3. Be Authentic: When you meet people in these settings, focus on your shared interest, not what they can do for your career. Ask questions, share your thoughts, and just enjoy the conversation. Real connections come from mutual respect and shared passions.

4. Follow Up: If you’ve had a great conversation with someone, don’t be afraid to reach out afterward. Send a quick thank-you note or connect on LinkedIn. Mention your conversation and say you'd love to stay in touch.

5. Stay Open to Opportunities: Sometimes, the best opportunities come out of nowhere. Be open to these new possibilities and willing to take on roles or projects that might not fit your original plan but could lead to something even better.

By taking this approach, you're not just networking - you're building real, lasting relationships. These connections can open doors that a resume alone never could. So, the next time you're at a concert, checking out an art show, or at a sporting event, remember that you might just meet someone who could change the course of your career.