Making Connections

[Career Foundations with Dan Gorgone] 0:00 [Dan Gorgone] It would be wonderful to accomplish everything we wanted to on our own. 0:04 Think of all the time we'd save. We wouldn't have to deal with terrible bosses, 0:08 lousy commutes, corporate backstabbing, angry customers. 0:13 There's a lot to love about working on your own. 0:18 However, the reality of working in the tech industry is that learning to network is vital for staying current, 0:21 improving your own skills, and sharing experiences. 0:28 Networking is more than simply meeting and greeting 0:32 or clicking the Follow button on a social network. 0:35 The power behind networking is when you build real relationships and turn them into professional opportunities. 0:38 Networking allows you to establish connections 0:45 and learn about the path you want to take, such as meeting people with your desired job 0:48 at an ideal company, or in the industry you'd like to be in. 0:54 It can lead to introductions, invitations to events, 0:58 and perhaps get your foot in the door when you see a promising job opening. 1:02 [Jim Hoskins] Traditional sites I think—you know—the ones where you'll find all sorts of jobs? 1:07 I haven't really looked very well. I'm sure there are plenty of them. 1:12 But I find that web development is such—one of those markets where finding talent is so difficult for people, 1:17 there's definitely more need than there are developers available, 1:24 that they make a real effort to reach out—the companies do to find those developers, so 1:28 they kind of come to where you are, so if you kind of just look around and find the job boards 1:33 that seem to be popular in your area. But really I think it comes down to networks— 1:37 like most of the time it comes down to knowing a friend, going to conferences and meeting people, 1:42 because that's where jobs first become available, is through the people who work there 1:50 and reaching out to their networks and then it ends up on a board usually. 1:54 So the best jobs you'll find are through your network. 1:58 [Dan Gorgone] It's important to consider your options for where and when to network, 2:01 as well as how to make to make the best impression and keep your connections active over time. 2:05 But recognize the difference between quantity and quality. 2:11 Racking up hundreds of contacts online is nothing compared to the value of a group of strong, 2:15 helpful, and engaging professional connections. 2:21 In this series of videos, we'll discuss how networking online and offline 2:25 can lead to unique opportunities to move forward along your career path. 2:31