Job Search Tips: Networking vs. Socializing

By jalba | July 7, 2009 |

I was at lunch with a buddy this last week when he started talking about a very interesting concept: networking vs. socializing.  He was talking about how his kids socialize (they do it very well), but they don’t know how to network.  Perhaps here are some differences:

Socializing = hanging out

Networking = nurturing relationships

Socializing = no purpose

Networking = I respect your time, and mine, and we talk about meaningful stuff

Socializing = boring -> I’m leaving

Networking = when it gets hard, I get to work

Socializing = results in nothing

Networking = never know what, but should eventually result in something

Socializing = entertain me

Networking = let me help you

Socializing = ________________

Networking = ________________

Isn’t that interesting? I personally think that, aside from productive, networking is fun.  More fun, perhaps, than socializing!

Note: I’m not saying that socializing is BAD… but it was interesting to think about the differences between the two!

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Posted in Career Articles & Resources, Fun With a Purpose, job search, Networking, Uncategorized

2 Comments

  1. JibberJobber Blog » Blog Archive » Job Search Help: Miscellaneous Job Search Resources on July 8, 2009 at 6:45 am

    […] buddy, who will remain unnamed (because I talk about his kids), was talking to me at lunch about Networking vs. Socializing.  What a powerful concept!  Maybe people hate networking so much because they don’t […]

    Reply
  2. Connected Well » Follow Policy: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, et al. on July 14, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    […] get that networking is not just socializing [via @jibberjobber]. I like both, but I am primarilly online for networking, and networking is […]

    Reply

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