I used to think networking was just awkward small talk until I tried a different way
For years, I avoided industry events because I hated the forced chats. Last month, a mentor told me to stop trying to meet everyone and instead aim for just two good conversations. I went to a local tech meetup and focused on that. I ended up talking with one person for 45 minutes about a specific project management tool they used. That one chat led to a coffee meeting and a solid job lead I'm following up on now. Has anyone else found that setting a small, specific goal for networking works better than just showing up?
Exactly. It's like a light bulb moment. You waste so much time on junk before you get it. One great thing beats ten mediocre ones any day. Saves money and hassle in the long run too.