PAYING TO GET PAID

What really alarms me about this graphic from Forbes & CareerBuilder is that the thing that is most important by a long shot actually gets the least attention: Networking.⠀
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Think about it. If you actually spent some time and money meeting people, getting to know them, allowing them to get to know you, and creating opportunities to provide value for them, if the time comes where you need a job, you can put yourself in a position to bypass the entire rest of the process by getting an offer from someone who already wants to work with you, or a referral from one of those people to a friend of theirs who happens to be hiring. ⠀
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When you build a relationship with someone and earn their trust and respect, in the right situation they will definitely be more likely to either hire you or vouch for you. ⠀
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The process of selling yourself starts long before resumes go out. So your next question is probably “where do I go to network”?. Anywhere where the people you want to meet might go. For example, it could be your local cars and coffee. Or join a local chamber of commerce or BNI group. ⠀
At the end of the day, whether you are looking for a job, investor, co-founder, or anything else, you will be doing business with PEOPLE - so you need to be investing in your people skills and your network NOW so that you can maximize your leverage in the future.