The Importance of Networking in IT
I wanted to talk about something that needs to be talked about... NETWORKING. No not with wires, routers, and switches.... with people, voices, and jobs. Networking for a IT specialist is an important thing because lets be real... sometimes (not all the time) it will take a person you know to open the door. Networking is the key that may get you your next job, your next raise, or your future dream job. Networking is not about meeting people that will help you get up the ladder but it is also about taking a genuine interest in who they are, what they do, and what their dreams and goals are...
Benefits of Networking....
1. Getting to know new people - Lets face it.... no one man/woman can be a island and if you have read the 48 Laws of power (give it a read sometime) isolation is dangerous. You can't expect to get where you want to be, without taking people with you. Notice I did not say use them as a stepping stone... Part of being a leader is taking people WITH you in your journey in IT...
2. You find jobs that aren't on the web. - Companies have internal job postings.... meaning sometimes they will try to hire from within THEN release the job online. Also just because a job is online does not mean its still open. Companies sometimes will have a amnt of time that the posting needs to be up before they can take it down... having someone that is on the inside helps a lot. Also that person can help out in many ways which brings me to my next point...
3. You have a reference/someone to put in a good word for you - I can attest to this myself.. I have gotten a job based on my skill, I had a good interview and I knew someone that worked there. Knowing someone can give you the extra edge over the other people that may not know anyone. But here is a warning!!! Do not go to the job and mess up/goof off/get fired... take it seriously... because someone put their rep on the line for you.
4. They can put you in touch with management and through HR filters. - I have had my resume go straight to the desk of the manager because of this. You wont have to deal with a lot of recruiters, and you can get interviews quickly.
5. Make new friends/acquaintences - Im going to be honest here... I am a friendly person and I always make at least 1-2 new friends at jobs that I work... regardless of if I try to do that or not. And they have been some great friendships over the years. Some I am not friends with anymore, some I am friends with. We don't go to work to be friends with everyone but sometimes it just happens and those tend to be long lasting friendships
6. Study Groups - It is nothing better and motivating to be in a room full of people that are learning WITH you. When people get together to study it motivates you, it makes you feel like you are not the only one doing this cert and studying and learning the material. You can bounce questions off people, have them quiz you, and have fun doing it too.
7. Conferences and meetups - Who wants to go to Black hat alone??? Nobody!!! If you don't network then you will be!!!! Going to a conference with a group of people is more fun then going by yourself... you get to see the conference in a group setting, you already know someone there, and you will have more fun.
8. Accountability - Sometimes we need that extra push or friendly reminder that we need to study, learn, or do something to further ourselves... networking can help you find someone that will help hold you accountable to your goals and dreams...
9. Self Development - I think this reason is the most important. In situations sometimes it takes a different set of eyes to see something you don't see. Networking forces you to get out of your comfort zone (if you are not very social) and allows you to develop yourself in many different ways... you may see a new way to run a script, automate a task, exploit a host, hack into a website, develop an app... you may have never found that out if you did not network...
10. Expand your horizons - It is a big world out there!!!! Life is bigger then your city, small town, suburb that you live in! Networking allows you the opportunity to travel and see different places... those on the east coast can travel to Black Hat (in vegas) and see what/how life is in that part of the world... there are jobs everywhere!!! Networking may get you a dream job in SoCal, Los Angeles, El Paso TX, the DMV, New York, Florida, etc... there are IT people all over... expand your horizons and take the world by storm!
There are the reasons why I think networking is important, and it is an important part of IT. Feel free to add your own comments!
Benefits of Networking....
1. Getting to know new people - Lets face it.... no one man/woman can be a island and if you have read the 48 Laws of power (give it a read sometime) isolation is dangerous. You can't expect to get where you want to be, without taking people with you. Notice I did not say use them as a stepping stone... Part of being a leader is taking people WITH you in your journey in IT...
2. You find jobs that aren't on the web. - Companies have internal job postings.... meaning sometimes they will try to hire from within THEN release the job online. Also just because a job is online does not mean its still open. Companies sometimes will have a amnt of time that the posting needs to be up before they can take it down... having someone that is on the inside helps a lot. Also that person can help out in many ways which brings me to my next point...
3. You have a reference/someone to put in a good word for you - I can attest to this myself.. I have gotten a job based on my skill, I had a good interview and I knew someone that worked there. Knowing someone can give you the extra edge over the other people that may not know anyone. But here is a warning!!! Do not go to the job and mess up/goof off/get fired... take it seriously... because someone put their rep on the line for you.
4. They can put you in touch with management and through HR filters. - I have had my resume go straight to the desk of the manager because of this. You wont have to deal with a lot of recruiters, and you can get interviews quickly.
5. Make new friends/acquaintences - Im going to be honest here... I am a friendly person and I always make at least 1-2 new friends at jobs that I work... regardless of if I try to do that or not. And they have been some great friendships over the years. Some I am not friends with anymore, some I am friends with. We don't go to work to be friends with everyone but sometimes it just happens and those tend to be long lasting friendships
6. Study Groups - It is nothing better and motivating to be in a room full of people that are learning WITH you. When people get together to study it motivates you, it makes you feel like you are not the only one doing this cert and studying and learning the material. You can bounce questions off people, have them quiz you, and have fun doing it too.
7. Conferences and meetups - Who wants to go to Black hat alone??? Nobody!!! If you don't network then you will be!!!! Going to a conference with a group of people is more fun then going by yourself... you get to see the conference in a group setting, you already know someone there, and you will have more fun.
8. Accountability - Sometimes we need that extra push or friendly reminder that we need to study, learn, or do something to further ourselves... networking can help you find someone that will help hold you accountable to your goals and dreams...
9. Self Development - I think this reason is the most important. In situations sometimes it takes a different set of eyes to see something you don't see. Networking forces you to get out of your comfort zone (if you are not very social) and allows you to develop yourself in many different ways... you may see a new way to run a script, automate a task, exploit a host, hack into a website, develop an app... you may have never found that out if you did not network...
10. Expand your horizons - It is a big world out there!!!! Life is bigger then your city, small town, suburb that you live in! Networking allows you the opportunity to travel and see different places... those on the east coast can travel to Black Hat (in vegas) and see what/how life is in that part of the world... there are jobs everywhere!!! Networking may get you a dream job in SoCal, Los Angeles, El Paso TX, the DMV, New York, Florida, etc... there are IT people all over... expand your horizons and take the world by storm!
There are the reasons why I think networking is important, and it is an important part of IT. Feel free to add your own comments!
In the darkest hour, there is always a way out - Eve ME3 :cool:
“The measure of an individual can be difficult to discern by actions alone.” – Thane Krios
“The measure of an individual can be difficult to discern by actions alone.” – Thane Krios
Comments
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dave330i
Member Posts: 2,091 ■■■■■■■■■■
The only networking I do is on LinkedIn (accepting recruiter invites) and posting on TE. They've been enough for me.2018 Certification Goals: Maybe VMware Sales Cert
"Simplify, then add lightness" -Colin Chapman -
doctorlexus
Member Posts: 217
Networking is not about meeting people that will help you get up the ladder but it is also about taking a genuine interest in who they are, what they do, and what their dreams and goals are...
I think you've OD'd on shining-happy-people pills. -
The_Expert
Member Posts: 136
I agree with everything the OP has said here... I was able to get my last two jobs through my networking contacts. And, I have also returned the favor. It's a win / win situation if done right.
I also regularly stay in touch with people who have moved onto other companies. I'll try to schedule lunch meetups throughout the year. Even if it is just a once a year event. The key is to stay in touch... that way, when you do need something. Folks are more likely to help you, instead of if you never showed your face and all of the sudden reappear out of nowhere.Masters, Public Administration (MPA), Bachelor of Science, 20+ years of technical experience.
Studying on again, off again... -
CMalon02
Member Posts: 25 ■■■□□□□□□□
Great advise i'm not the most social person but tonight i'm attending my first IT meetup started by some of my old professors. I hope to meet some great people and have a good time. -
ITSpectre
Member Posts: 1,040 ■■■■□□□□□□
Great advise i'm not the most social person but tonight i'm attending my first IT meetup started by some of my old professors. I hope to meet some great people and have a good time.
You will.... I am coming off a "IT high" from last night. I attended a programmers event that I found on meetup that was in my area. Met some cool people..In the darkest hour, there is always a way out - Eve ME3 :cool:
“The measure of an individual can be difficult to discern by actions alone.” – Thane Krios -
Techytach
Member Posts: 140
I am so bad at this. Very introverted. Don't like people, like machines more kind of person. And I don't know if its something I can fix.
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stryder144
Member Posts: 1,684 ■■■■■■■■□□
Don't forget that you need to think beyond IT, as well. For instance, go to a Toastmasters International meeting and learn how to speak effectively. It will not only boost your IT career, but you will meet company decision makers at TI (you know, the ones who approve the hiring and firing at businesses). Go to a Dale Carnegie or Stephen Covey Five Habits course. Just something, anything that widens your views.The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position. ~ Leo Buscaglia
Connect With Me || My Blog Site || Follow Me -
lodis86
Member Posts: 26 ■□□□□□□□□□
stryder144 wrote: »Don't forget that you need to think beyond IT, as well. For instance, go to a Toastmasters International meeting and learn how to speak effectively. It will not only boost your IT career, but you will meet company decision makers at TI (you know, the ones who approve the hiring and firing at businesses). Go to a Dale Carnegie or Stephen Covey Five Habits course. Just something, anything that widens your views.
Came in here to write something like this, but Stryder144 summed it up perfectly!
