FEATURE ARTICLE
April 2003

Not Networking, Not Working
By Michelle Beese

Somewhere in my travels I saw the sign, "Not Networking, Not Working," and I was struck by the absolute simple truth and power in that statement. As career counselors we all know the benefits of networking, and in the current job market it is more imperative than ever before. So what does "luck" or "chance" have to do with it? Isn’t networking one of our planned activities for our clients? Ah ha! It’s our plan; how do we make it our clients’ plan? And how do we show them the magic in getting out and making those face-to-face, one-on-one "connections" with people, and how do we show them the "luck" they are creating for themselves?

I believe one way of helping to make the connection for them is by telling our own stories. For many of us in the career development field, networking is second nature. We thrive on "connecting" with people, and "connecting" people to each other. How many times have you had a chance encounter with someone during a networking event lead to a job, a contract, a chance to talk about an exciting proposal you have been mulling over in your head? Sharing those personal experiences and stories with our clients can motivate them to try it, and they might decide they like it.

I’ve emphasized the idea of making "connections" with people, and to me that is the basis for networking. It is all about building relationships, and as I mentioned, for many of us that is second nature. What about our clients who are not as aware of the benefits of networking as we are? Perhaps they are also a bit shy, and the thought of networking is terrifying to them. I encourage my students to look at networking as an opportunity to share their enthusiasm and energy for their field, and to offer their own unique talents and gifts they each have. Networking is not about "taking" (time, energy, information) from someone. It is about building a relationship and recognizing that as a person, even one without a job or experience, you still have something of great value to offer another person.

I like to think of what we all have to offer as "gifts." Last summer I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a process called Dependable Strengths Articulation Training, which was founded by Dr. Bernard Haldane. This is a process for helping one to clearly identify and articulate his/her own strengths and gifts. (For more information on this training, contact Dr. Jerald Forster at counsel@u.washington.edu.) I had the good "luck" of meeting Dr. Haldane and his wife, Jean, during the training. I also bought Dr. Haldane’s book, Career Satisfaction and Success, A guide to Job and Personal Freedom. In his book Dr. Haldane talks about "The Inevitability of Change" and quotes Erik Erikson: "Turbulence and reorganization occur at major points of transition." We all know how fast and furious change is in our world today. Helping our clients adapt and grow with all the change can be a challenge. I see networking as a powerful strategy in helping our clients meet that challenge.

We all know networking is about getting out there and making contacts through many different sources: friends, family, classmates, alumni, professional associations. How comforting when we talk with others to find they are also affected by the rapid rate of change in our world today! And I believe this rapid rate of change is here to stay. How we respond to it will be the question. My all-time favorite saying is: "Change is constant; growth is optional." Are you helping your clients to grow? Are you yourself choosing to grow? Are you modeling the power of networking for your clients? Are you working because you are networking? Are you helping your clients to see themselves with gifts to offer in a networking situation?

My educated guess is, YES YOU ARE! By following all of the networking guidelines ourselves, and teaching our clients how to network, we are all certain to find ourselves in the right place at the right time!

We do good and important work in this dynamic field of career development, helping our clients to "utilize focused planning and circumstance for career success." Let’s keep up the good work!

Michelle Beese, President-Elect of CCDA, works in the Career Center and teaches at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, and she also teaches in the Counseling Education master’s program at CSU, Sacramento. She can be reached at 530-626-3057 or by e-mail: mpbeese@cwnet.com.