Networks. Networking. Awkward and pointless schmoozing, or the surest way to achieving your goals?
Your odds of getting the job are much better if someone who favourably knows you passes along your resume, or at least gives the hiring manager a heads-up. As opposed to you just submitting it via the website.
Really learning the job you want and/or the industry from direct exposure to those more senior, and getting connected to their connections works much better when you’re regularly in proximity.
Networks at work.
I really do not envy those trying to start or restart their careers these days. Plus, let’s face it, a lot of us fail to actively water the network plant when we don’t immediately need it to bloom.
Trying to build and/or maintain your network can be uncomfortable and draining at the best of times for many people who are not naturally outgoing. Sure, relationships of various kinds and degrees do develop organically over time among co-workers or those who regularly interact for other professional reasons. But that’s predicated on regular in-person interactions.
But trying to do this when you can’t be face to face with most (or any) people pretty much flies in the face of how we as a social species fundamentally function.
What are first impressions like in the age of Zoom? Does your technology count for as much as you do? Are you doomed if your audio isn’t crystal clear or your video gets a bit unstable? Is your video call background as important as your attire? What message does it send if you use a virtual background to obscure your actual surroundings? (Not everyone has impressive bookshelves…)
Because of layers of technology between speakers and a lack of direct in-person cues, we may need to speak up more or show more energy and animation in a video call. But how much more? Where’s the balance between engaged professional and children’s birthday party entertainer?
And to think we used to just worry about having a presentable outfit and a firm handshake when we walked into an interview.
But having to set up a virtual meeting brings an element of formality even to something often intended to be casual. We can’t just spontaneously invite someone for coffee. Although, for those who get endless requests to “pick your brain” over coffee, having a built-in excuse to never do that these days is probably a relief.
Even just trying to ask for someone’s time or attention – pretty much regardless of reason – is harder. In addition to the aforementioned, unavoidable formality of setting up a phone or video chat, there’s the fundamental fraughtness of the virtual ask.
Asking someone in person to grab coffee: a quick break to stretch your legs and chat. Asking someone online to grab a coffee: an imposition, more email, a request for yet another meeting. And that’s assuming the recipient doesn’t just glance at it, delete it and forget it.
For anyone in a position of experience or influence, or even those who just work at a company perceived as cool, it’s pretty common for any such invitation to feel like the opening salvo to yet another someone (who you may barely know, if at all) wanting something from you. There’s never the assumption that the inquirer just politely wants information.
In a broader interactive setting, people and organizations are trying to continue, at least marginally, business as usual. There have been virtual job fairs and/or networking and learning events. Do they work as well as in-person ones, or at all? I don’t know. I hope so.
It’s entirely possible that people come out of them feeling like they’ve made great connections and are actually growing their networks. But do the parties on both sides feel the same? Do we remember those we met online professionally just as well as in person? Are follow-ups as sticky? What even makes a virtual introduction or interaction “sticky”?
While this could make for some interesting occupational psychology studies eventually, apologies to those who may be the guinea pigs in the meantime.
As for virtual events themselves, as we’ve already found out, video meetings can be really draining, especially long ones. And it’s just harder to maintain attention when staring at a screen. Especially if what you’re looking at doesn’t change much, i.e. it’s just slides or talking heads.
That setting also isn’t as good for being able to ask questions or have a group conversation. And if there’s even a touch of lag, there are good odds you’ll end up interrupting each other. Getting the attention of or interaction with the meeting chair or anyone influential who’s present seems highly unlikely.
Of course, if the meeting is set up where only one person can talk or present at once, that’s different. But that’s not a conversation, Q&A or networking opportunity. That’s a lecture.
We also need to take our own state of mind and body into account these days when we plan to interact with others. The normal and expected six-month wall that everyone seems to be hitting is likely to mean we’re even more tired, less animated, have a harder time thinking and expressing ourselves, and are more prone to be impatient and/or grouchy.
Now consider adding family stress, job stress and health stress on top of that. Doesn’t exactly sound like the ideal time to try and make friends, ramp up projects or attend interviews, does it?
But where you’re at day to day is not only going to affect how you appear in virtual coffee chats, meetings, or other not-quite-get-togethers. It’ll seep into your writing style when you ask to have one of those meetings, or follow up afterward.
Unfortunately, though, we don’t know how we’re going to be on Friday when we request the meeting on Tuesday. And the last thing the person who requested the meeting wants to do is have to beg off and reschedule it.
Alas, I don’t foresee a shift to radical corporate honesty, where we can just freely admit it’s really not a good day, and cancel… everything.
So be kind to each other when you have to have meetings, or when someone asks for a bit of your time. Especially people you don’t know, and who may be young, just trying to start out, or feeling panicky about the future.
Etiquette flubs probably aren’t on purpose (though you have no obligation to engage with rudeness or entitlement). They may not be able to afford a better microphone. They may not yet have a well-polished network and be of quid pro quo use to you.
We’ve heard a gazillion times since March that we’re all in this together. One network, so to speak.
M-Theory is an opinion column by Melanie Baker. Opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Communitech. Melle can be reached on Twitter at @melle or by email at me@melle.ca.
