Meeting new people

Forget the term "networking". It sounds too official and targeted specifically at finding a new job. Being out of work is a great time to meet new people, regardless of whether you think it will lead to a new job or not. The thing is - you never know where a new connection might lead you in life.

Let’s start with who you should meet. The answer is anyone. You could start with other people who are out of work. Check out a local job club, a networking group, find a JoblessJoe member who wrote an interesting comment and contact them. Talk to your current family and friends. If they know someone who is out of work, ask for their number.

You don’t just have to meet up with people who are out of work. Get on LinkedIn and email an old co-worker. Invite them to coffee. You currently have something that you won’t have forever - time. Use it for more than searching for jobs on the computer.

So the big question: Why meet new people?

I can tell you what I get from meeting new people:

1. New Connections (job leads): This is the obvious one. People know people. Let’s say you are an out of work web designer. You also have an interest in home improvement projects. You meet up with an out of work contractor. No agenda, just to grab coffee. During your conversation, you learn that his sister runs a small web company and is looking for a designer. OK – maybe it won’t come that easy but that’s the gist.
2. New Ideas: You would be surprised how many new ideas I get from talking with someone new. Let’s say you meet up with someone in the same industry. You find out that being out of work has prompted them to take some courses that will make them more hirable. Great idea! Maybe they will reveal a trick they use for job searching. Maybe they will give you a new idea for how to BBQ chicken. It doesn’t have to be about finding a job. The point is that meeting new people will expose you to ideas you may not get from staying within your typical circle of connections.
3. New Friends: It’s never too late to make new friends. When I go to meet someone new, I don’t think of it as a “networking opportunity”. I think of it as a chance to make a new friend. So even if I don’t walk away with job connections, or new ideas, or anything else, maybe I can walk away with a new friend I can call in the future for support or guidance, or just to chat.

Meeting up with new people can be intimidating at first. You think to yourself: Will I hate talking to them? Will they be unpleasant or rude? There is always a chance. But 99% percent of the people I have met (not having met them ever before) were great to talk to and I always left feeling glad I made the effort.

And that’s all you need to do - make an effort. Put yourself out there. Again, it may pay back in ways you never could have imagined.