For some reason, I think this generation network for the wrong reasons. Or maybe we just dont even understand it. My friend was talking to me about looking for a better job, so I directed her to someone, and she came back saying she didn’t like that particular job.
For me, I understood her because although it was a good-paying job, it was very tedious. It also wasn’t the regular office job that most youth want. It was a full-time field job that required her to be in the field most of the time and be reporting on every field project. Did she have the academic requirement? No. But did she get the job? Yes.
And that was because I knew one of the managers at the place. When you know people, your qualifications do not matter like that. I only recommended her, and she provided her CV. Fast forward to when she said she wanted a new job.
So she came back to me asking if I could help her with another job, and I explained that every other job I’ll get for her will be the same thing due to my own field of profession. To be very honest, I love what I do, and although it is tedious, I don’t really feel it because of how passionate I am about it.
It was the other way for my friend, so after a long conversation with her, I told her that if she doesn’t want the job I recommend her for, then she should contact someone else to help her. She then said, Oh, it wasn’t possible because all her other friends were for “trips“ and enjoyment”.
I was a little surprised to hear that, but then again, it’s the 21st century, and Gen Zs are just always full of surprises. The youth want to make friends with people they can call at 1am to go to the club with or someone they can call to go with them for boat riding. We forget that the real reason for networking is more than that.
There’s nothing wrong with having a friend who goes out to have fun with you every Friday night or a friend who goes on spontaneous trips with you. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with having people who go different places with you to try all types of things. But then while you are having all those people in your circle, make sure you have others who can land you a contract with just a call or someone who can bring you an opportunity with just one text.
It’s fun and fine to have great people who are all about the enjoyment in life, but then don’t forget that at the end of it all, it’s important to build yourself and the dream life that you want. And to be able to do that, you need money and, even better, people. Not just any type of people, but people who know people.
Images are mine