Networking as a Full Time Occupation

I have decided to make networking into a full time occupation.

Many of you are experienced job hunters and will have learned or been taught that the best way of securing a new job is by word of mouth. If you are a sociable person (or in my case, just like the sound of your own voice), then this is great. You can combine an economically useful function with something akin to a hobby. If you lucky, some of the people that you meet along the way, will become long lasting friends or at least acquaintances.

To be a successful networker, there are certain rules and customs to avoid. “Giz_a_job” is ineffective, undignified and against the code of chivalry that operates amongst the Knights that practice this. Besides which, it tends to make for a fairly short conversation (“No. Good luck. Good-Bye”).

The proper rules of engagement provide for an initial lengthy preamble about family, friends, holidays, golf handicap, and other matters that you forget about within 2 days. Then, you may move carefully along to the subject of business, inquiring with an interested voice on the latest developments, and projects that your friend is working on. It is also appropriate to ask at this point about mutual business acquaintances.

Moving quickly ahead, you will at some point pick up some indications on whether they are actually hiring. But I have cut this last part a bit short, as the purpose of this blog is not to give you a description or lesson on the honourable art of networking, rather to say that I have a new model (as we business people say) to turn this on its head.

I have decided to use networking and looking for a job as cover for keeping in contact with people and generally socialising. I realised that now I am retired, I am not as useful for internal politics, unpaid consultancy, randomly useful ideas and general market intelligence and gossip. “How about a chat about the weather, have a good natter, and waste your time in the office? Shall we meet up next week?” is not a great sales line and does not obtain many meetings. (Actually, you would be surprised, how many meetings it does lead to).

Instead, I shall call people up or send them emails, saying that I have this great new product, which will lead to 25% reduction of costs and efficiency with no effort on your part, and no investment required. (Again, in reality, much of my career was involved in doing exactly that, but that is not the point).

This product needs a name and a logo, so I will call it the “New Boots and Rags Operations and Organisation Methodology” (and see how many of my family know where this name comes from – my dad will know). I am not sure about the logo. Something canine, I think. (You will have to read the next blog to find out the origination of this name).

Anyway, having secured my meeting, lunch, power breakfast or drink after work, I will then be indifferent as to the commercial outcome and be totally absorbed by personal topics. In particular, I will find out whether they have a holiday apartment, which we can swap. Do they play golf, ski or go hiking? Might they be a suitable training partner in my build up to an Olympic triathlon (if I ever do one)? Are they bad at chess, but still interested in playing (I am fed up with being beaten).

You get the idea. These poor people are so used to having people trying to sell them something, that my meetings will be a breath of fresh air and my expenses can all be charged to against tax (not that I have any business income yet to set it off against).

It’s a new paradigm. (I don't know what this means, but I have always wanted to write that!!)