The KEY To Networking Yourself into Your Dream Job in 2022

Podcast Summary

• Learn from the best in your industry: To advance in your field, seek opportunities to work closely with those you admire, even if it requires persistence and resilience. Benefits outweigh initial discomfort.

  If you want to learn and grow in your desired field, it's essential to get as close as possible to the people and opportunities that inspire you. Gary Vee emphasizes the importance of pursuing internships or other opportunities to work directly with those you admire, even if it requires persistence and resilience in the face of rejection. He believes that the potential benefits of learning from the "sun" of your industry outweigh any initial discomfort or frustration. However, it's crucial to strike the right balance in your approach, avoiding annoyance or coming across as desperate. Remember, there may be many others pursuing the same opportunities, so it's essential to stand out and demonstrate genuine passion and determination. Ultimately, the key is to remain persistent, respectful, and authentic in your efforts to learn and grow.

• Building Relationships Opens Doors to New Opportunities: Understanding people and making connections, especially with those we admire or see as potential mentors, can lead to new opportunities. Effective ways to start building relationships include following people on social media, being warm and kind, and simply saying hello.

  Building genuine relationships can open doors to new opportunities. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding people and making connections, especially with those we admire or see as potential mentors. He suggests following people on social media, being warm and kind, and simply saying hello as effective ways to start building relationships. The speaker also mentions that winners often want to help other winners, so being persistent and creative in our attempts to connect can pay off. While information can be valuable, the speaker argues that people are often the real unlock to new opportunities in our careers. So, instead of focusing solely on acquiring information, we should focus on building relationships and making meaningful connections.

• Building personal connections and gaining practical experience are essential for career advancement: Networking and interning are crucial steps towards achieving career goals, especially in industries where personal connections matter. Persistently work your way up and be smart about opportunities to make the most of them.

  Networking and interning are crucial steps towards achieving your career goals, especially in industries where personal connections can make a significant difference. The speaker emphasizes the importance of getting as close as possible to successful people in your field, even if it means starting from an entry-level position or reaching out to them through unconventional means. He uses the example of aspiring clothing designers trying to break into the industry by interning for established designers like Virgil Abloh or Sean Withers. The speaker also highlights the importance of persistence and being smart about how you approach these opportunities. He advises starting with people who may be slightly further down the career ladder but still influential, and working your way up. The speaker also emphasizes the value of getting into the "vortex" of your industry, where opportunities and connections abound. In summary, the key takeaway is that building personal connections and gaining practical experience through internships are essential for career advancement, and that persistence and smart strategy are key to making the most of these opportunities.

• Expanding our network by connecting with unexpected people: Instead of fixating on relevancy, approach and connect with those we don't know for potential valuable connections

  Instead of focusing on the relevance or clout of people we meet, we should open ourselves up to meeting those who may not seem significant at first. Relevancy is subjective, and the obsession with reaching out to the "relevant" people can lead to a supply and demand issue where we're unable to break through. Instead, we should act like human beings and start conversations with those we don't know. You never know who might be the gateway to valuable connections. The speaker shares his own experience of coming to events like this when he was in the wine business and wasn't considered relevant. However, by being an extrovert and approaching people, he was able to make valuable connections. So, stop strategizing people's clout and start acting like a human being to win in various aspects of life.

• Engage with people for invaluable networking opportunities: Doing free work can be a powerful way to build a foundation and gain recognition in your industry

  The true value of attending events like this comes from engaging with the people around you. While the information presented may be accessible online, the opportunity to build relationships and network is invaluable. The speaker emphasized the importance of not being shy and reaching out to those sitting next to you. He also shared his personal experience of doing free work to build a foundation for success and urged those starting out to consider this approach. The market ultimately decides one's worth, and if nobody knows who you are, doing free work can be a powerful way to change that.

• Building relationships during internships: Focus on networking and building relationships during internships for future opportunities, not just acquiring skills.

  During an internship, the connections you make with people are invaluable and can lead to future opportunities. The skills you learn are important, but they only make up a small percentage of the overall experience. Instead of focusing solely on what you'll learn, prioritize networking and building relationships. Attend after-hours events, introduce yourself to as many people as possible, and don't be afraid to be persistent. Even if you're in an office where everyone seems busy or unapproachable, find someone who seems open to connecting and make a genuine effort to build a relationship with them. Remember, the people you meet during your internship may go on to work at other companies, and they could be the ones who remember your hustle and tenacity and offer you future opportunities. So, make the most of your internship by focusing on the people and the relationships you build, rather than just the skills you acquire. It's a simple truth, but one that's often overlooked: the world is a people world.

• Building relationships is the most valuable KPI and ROI during an internship: Engage in small talk and create meaningful relationships with colleagues during an internship to enhance work experience and expand professional network

  That while technical skills are important, building relationships during an internship is the most valuable key performance indicator (KPI) and return on investment (ROI). Even if you find yourself in the 50% of interns who are assigned less glamorous tasks, don't let that discourage you from making connections. Engage in small talk with your colleagues about shared interests or hobbies, and use these opportunities to learn more about each other. By creating meaningful relationships, you'll not only enhance your work experience but also expand your professional network. Remember, the connections you make during your internship could lead to future job opportunities or valuable industry insights. So, even if you're delivering coffees, say hello, start a conversation, and make every interaction count.