How To Network If You Really Don’t Like It
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“But I don’t know what to say!” I thought to myself, frustrated.
I knew I was supposed to network.
I knew it was important because referrals are so important.
Stats like “85% of jobs are not listed on job boards,” and stuff like that.
But I just didn’t like networking.
Even though it’s all online, I got so nervous when I thought about talking to someone.
But you know what?
I knew what I really wanted.
A job.
Wait, no.
Not a job.
I wanted opportunities.
I wanted a DREAM job.
My Harajuku Moment
“I’m worried about you. Because you’re making careless mistakes!”
In the book “The 4-Hour Body,” Tim Ferris talks about a concept which explains why people struggle to follow through with action.
One of the biggest problems people have when trying to lose weight is taking action.
We all KNOW what we need to lose weight.
Yet somehow, many people struggle with actually doing the work to do it.
Enter the Harajuku Moment.
“It’s an epiphany that turns a nice-to-have into a must-have.”
It’s a reason. It’s your “why.”
Once you have this, it’s so much easier to take action.
For me, my Harajuku Moment was my boss.
In 2013, I started working for a small company in the middle of the city.
I was grateful to have this job.
I’d been laid off from my last one, and it took me months to find another job…for $15 an hour.
(Can you believe I have a 4-year degree?)
Anyway, my boss was horrible.
The definition of toxic.
She was constantly micromanaging me.
If I made even the smallest data entry mistake, she’d go nuts on me.
Everything I did was wrong.
I cried most nights after work.
I ended up going to a psychiatrist to get anxiety medication.
One day, after my boss yelled at me again, I had enough.
I remember the day.
“I’m worried about you. Because you’re making careless mistakes!”
I wasn’t going to stand for this anymore!
That’s when I knew I needed to get over the fact that I didn’t like networking.
Otherwise, I’d be stuck with this horrible boss.
Forever.
Now…
I’m not going to lie; networking was hard.
But it was worth it!
I went from working with a horrible manager to working with someone who cares about my career.
I also (eventually) went from making $15 an hour to $52 an hour.
I feel confident in my career now, too.
Like, if I needed to get a job now, I could get one.
No more mass applying for jobs online, only to hear crickets.
Instead, I can talk to people in my network.
Not to mention, recruiters are approaching me pretty regularly.
Okay, so how do you network?
What I’ve found that’s worked best for me is networking on Linkedin.
Over 90 million senior-level employees utilize Linkedin for networking.
It’s an easy way to talk about yourself without trying too hard, and at the same time, I can network with others without being awkward or forced.
No weird conversation starters that the “gurus” promote on Linkedin.
Instead, I join conversations already happening on Linkedin, while also starting conversations on my own.
Fix the profile
Before I start meeting new people so I can land a sweet new job, I needed to update my profile.
Most people use Linkedin like a resume, but that’s a waste of space, and people won’t remember you.
That’s why you must optimize your profile.
Something as simple as a stylish banner can make a big difference.
Meet the right people
Don’t just send connection requests randomly!
And don’t ask for a referral right away!
Instead, we need to think about who we want to connect with and why.
Linkedin has amazing features that make it easy to find the right people to connect with.
Start the conversation with a compliment.
People love it when you tell them how their recent post or article helped you.
By the way, did you know 92% of Fortune 500 companies are active on Linkedin?
Let’s get social
Did you know that starting conversations on Linkedin is the easiest way to get your dream job?
That’s because by starting conversations on Linkedin, you’re demonstrating all the attractive qualities the dream companies want:
· Leadership,
· Independence,
· Creativity,
· Assertiveness,
· and more!
These are just random people, either; over 90 million senior-level employees utilize Linkedin for networking.
Okay, so this is all great…but what if you need more help?
I get it.
Like I said, networking is hard.
Especially if you don’t like networking like I didn’t.
I’ll admit it; I’m still very shy.
Well, you’re in luck because Justin Nguyen, International Keynote Speaker from the Apple Top 100 GetChoGrindUp & Declassified College podcasts, has partnered with Stan Miller, the Chief Sales Officer at Viewpost and founding partner at Storicate to help us out!
Together, they made a program for people just like you and me to learn how to network on Linkedin, even if you’re shy and don’t know how to socialize.
“It would have taken me more than 20 YouTube videos to gain what I experienced in one session.” — Yana F.
In this course, you’ll learn how to quickly improve your LinkedIn profile so that recruiters, hiring managers and key decision-makers fall in love at first sight and can’t wait to start a conversation with you!
Stan Miller is one of a kind storytelling trainer, and with his help, you’ll learn how to craft a beautiful narrative that positions you as an expert and lets you stand out from the crowd.
“I loved the Superpower Statement. Overall, great course and excellent information to help new users reach the next level.” -Tyler L.
If you’re naturally a wallflower like I am, you’ll love how Justin Nguyen shows you the exact process he uses every day to network with billionaires, mega-influencers, and super executives from dream companies.
His strategy allowed him to grow his podcast and speaking career incredibly fast, including getting his newest podcast that he launched less than four months ago to become an iTunes Top 100 podcast!
The best part is that his templates are so simple, but they work so well.
“I loved the headline, summary, and how to create a personalized message section. Plus, the workbook was helpful throughout the course.”-Loryn M.
Ready to Gain Control of Your Career?
Check out this link to start training with Justin and Stan right away!
You’ll get everything you need to improve your Linkedin profile and start networking with movers and shakers today once you sign up.
Happy Hunting!
-Michael Rincon
