NETWORKING, the VERB:

I... am not the biggest fan of networking, so this is me trying to love it by learning more of it. What is networking? I like this question because I think it encourages the same dilemma that “mentoring” also has— a lot of different definitions that will completely depend on the person who’s defining it. Here are some ways I’ve tried to parse it down

• Part of the difficulty in networking is trying to figure out who you are networking with. Some of that is based on whether you’re looking to build vertical or horizontal networks. Vertical networks are people who are below or above you in your career or personal life. For example, a coordinator might be looking to network with someone in a supervisor role as an eventual career goal. On the other hand, horizontal networks are meeting peers or people in similar positions as you. (This terminology is also used when talking about promotions— a vertical or horizontal move.)
  
  

• In additional to directionality, there’s also the question of intentionally meeting people in your field versus a more organic approach and networking with everyone. This dilemma often happens when going to a conference with a broad range of participants. This in-field v. out-of-field debate has strong underpinnings with the organic v. formal debate in networking.  The argument for in-field is pretty self-explanatory. But out-of-field is also important because of weak ties, and here’s a 2-min. youtube video from Dalton Conley’s You May Ask Yourself that more succinctly explains it.
  
  

• The organic v. formal debate of networking is pretty huge, especially with criticisms of how fake networking can seem/be. Tiziana Casciaro, Frances Gino, and Maryam Kouchaki write about this in Harvard Business Review with “Learn to Love Networking.” The gist of the article touches on a perspective shift of what you can offer and bring to the table when approaching and talking to others.
  
  

• I think the above debate also touches on the complexity of being genuine and polished. A couple of years ago, I taught a series of professional development workshops and one of the students asked about how to express herself and how to be the truest version of herself while still trying to get approval from others. To be frank, I don’t believe they’re as mutually exclusive as I used to think. Yes, you should know the rules — both official and unofficial— and yes, you should err on the side of caution especially when you’re first starting (after all, you can’t make a second 1st impression.) But I also don’t think that practicing makes an answer automatically less genuine, so I’d argue that you can be both. Call me selfish.
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Ultimately, the what in networking is dependent on the why of why do you network? — To find a new job? To start a new career? To meet new people? Because you believe in people’s potential? To find a mentor? To gain advice? And the list goes on. And the answers will change stage to stage too. But regardless, networking is unavoidable.