August 15, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Why Should You Network?
August 17, 2009 at 7:42 am
For a lot of us technical individuals it is very difficult and uncomfortable to network and we can find work to do instead of getting outside of our comfort zone. However, I've found that more enjoyment in my career has come from the people that I work with or have met over the years than the countless projects that I have completed or managed. Most of the connections that I have made may take years to come back and be beneficial to me or the other person and at times it may never benefit either of us other than the fact that the next time we may be at an event together it will be that much easier as you now know someone and it is less uncomfortable for each of us.
I definitely think that it is worth the risk of being uncomfortable and getting out and networking. If nothing else, you just may brighten someone else's day!
August 17, 2009 at 7:56 am
There are several reasons to network.
1) You never know when your current employer is going to flake on you. The current economic climate has turned corporate America upside down and nobody is immune to the resulting structural changes occuring.
2) You never know when the bigger/better deal is going to come along.
3) You make friends...who among you has too many friends? I know I always have room for more friends.
4) You open up opportunities to collaborate on outside projects that will further your career. Some of those oportunities may actually pay money. Who among you couldn't use a little extra jingle in your pocket or the additional benefits from diversifying your income to reduce personal financial risk?
I'm sure others can add to this list. My point is that networking has many benefits beyond just securing employment.
August 17, 2009 at 8:01 am
#s 1 and 2 are why I also recommend you touch your resume every quarter.
August 17, 2009 at 8:42 am
I view every discussion on this site's forums as "networking". It's not just about who you know for a new job, it's also about who you know that you can ask for help when you need it.
I ran into an XML querying issue a little while back. Just could not figure it out. Asked people I know here, got an answer, saw the forest (it was that kind of problem), and moved on to the next challenge. Without this network of experts, I'd have brick-walled that problem for who knows how long.
I get the reverse of that pretty regularly as well. People specifically seeking my help on things. Most of whom, I don't even know in person, just through this networking site called SQLServerCentral.
- Gus "GSquared", RSVP, OODA, MAP, NMVP, FAQ, SAT, SQL, DNA, RNA, UOI, IOU, AM, PM, AD, BC, BCE, USA, UN, CF, ROFL, LOL, ETC
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"Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everyone agrees it's old enough to know better." - Anon
August 17, 2009 at 11:57 am
My last two jobs were due to a friend telling me about a job opening. It hasn't worked so much in this buyer's market, but I still think it is a good thing to keep up your contacts list. If nothing else, this site, facebook, and linkedin are good ways to keep in touch with both friends and potential business contacts.
August 17, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Steve Jones - Editor (8/17/2009)
#s 1 and 2 are why I also recommend you touch your resume every quarter.
Excellent suggestion. Nothing worse than seeing an opportunity come and having to update your resume before applying, then watching it blow by before you get to it. Or having to hand over a substandard resume.
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"stewsterl 80804 (10/16/2009)I guess when you stop and try to understand the solution provided you not only learn, but save yourself some headaches when you need to make any slight changes."
August 17, 2009 at 3:55 pm
LinkedIn was mentioned. Is it worthwhile putting your professional info on LinkedIn? Or will I be setting myself up to receive emails from Nigerian bank managers or MLM solicitations?
August 17, 2009 at 3:57 pm
You won't get much Nigerian Bank messages on LinkedIn.
The groups you can join often have nuggets of good information and they provide the means for contacting people in companies you are interested in talking to.
August 18, 2009 at 1:55 am
I can see the advantages of networking. however the truth of the matter is, a lot of people simply dont have the time.
It is true that you can make friends, make yourself more employable, find people who can help you with technical problems and gain more knowledge. there is also the feel good factor from social interaction either from events and menaingful conversation.
But you can not talk about the pro's without the cons.
Networking takes up your social time. if you have a laptop or a blackberry you never leave the office, you have email notification of replies to topics you subscribed to. You need to catch up on blogs every day, just in case you miss something. You feel obligated to go the usergroup/meetings. you feel that you to need to contribute when you meet people, so that means learning something that is not known, which takes up even more time. technology is a moving target and you can never keep up.
I used to run a gaming forum as well as play the online game. I used to be on the computer on average 17 hours a day, 7 days a week. Nothing mattered more than talking to all my friends who played the game. I used to manage my forums. Check all posts. read all the posts on the gaming forms as well. i done this for 3 years and it almost ended my relationship.
I am not saying that work related blogs and forums, are that bad. But the comparision is there. I dont social network as such. I like to check out this site and others but that is the limit of my involvement. Life is too short and I think that networking can be a good thing, just dont let it be the main thing in your life.
~Silverfox~
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August 18, 2009 at 7:30 am
I'd agree that networking shouldn't be a big time sink in your life. However networking isn't a daily thing, or doesn't need to be. Touching base with people you know on a monthly basis or even a little less, will allow you to keep in touch with them.
We tend to race around today and get caught up in "now", but that's not the way it has to be. I have plenty of contacts that I see once a year, and that's a fine period in which to catch up on how they are and make contact.
August 18, 2009 at 7:48 am
Steve Jones - Editor (8/18/2009)
I have plenty of contacts that I see once a year, and that's a fine period in which to catch up on how they are and make contact.
Have you been talking to my parents?? Man, they're everywhere!
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How best to post your question[/url]
How to post performance problems[/url]
Tally Table:What it is and how it replaces a loop[/url]
"stewsterl 80804 (10/16/2009)I guess when you stop and try to understand the solution provided you not only learn, but save yourself some headaches when you need to make any slight changes."
August 18, 2009 at 8:07 am
LOL, no, my brother. :w00t:
Actually I have quite a few contacts and friends that I see at the PASS Summit, and rarely correspond outside of that. Amazing how much you get done in 15 minutes, once a year.
February 17, 2014 at 11:44 am
Dave-148053 (8/17/2009)
LinkedIn was mentioned. Is it worthwhile putting your professional info on LinkedIn? Or will I be setting myself up to receive emails from Nigerian bank managers or MLM solicitations?
Have been a member of Linkedin for 4 years. Did not get any inappropriate emails or notifications so far. Got in touch with some of my old colleagues and managers via Linkedin.
February 17, 2014 at 12:44 pm
Kumar Arumugam (2/17/2014)
Dave-148053 (8/17/2009)
LinkedIn was mentioned. Is it worthwhile putting your professional info on LinkedIn? Or will I be setting myself up to receive emails from Nigerian bank managers or MLM solicitations?Have been a member of Linkedin for 4 years. Did not get any inappropriate emails or notifications so far. Got in touch with some of my old colleagues and managers via Linkedin.
Just stay up to date on the news with this company and hopefully you'll be ok. If you are considering installing any Linkedin apps, do so with informed consent and do your reading first.
Heres a few prior informative articles concerning some of Linkedin's technical designs, it doesn't hurt do be an informed user of website's and company's services, and we all should be informed regarding where our information ends up, especially if you are considering installing one of their apps.
http://threatpost.com/linkedin-intro-app-equivalent-to-man-in-the-middle-attack-experts/102683
In my own case, I tend to keep my internet activities reasonably segregated and would probably not make use of Linkedin's advanced functionality as described in the two links and any future functionality along the same lines, although I do have an account with them and they sure are a popular site in the professional networking arena.
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