Small World? Networking Reveals How Interconnect We Really Are

I have been reading about job search experts saying that summertime is a good time to make connections at social functions. You know; the barbeques, family reunions, backyard picnics, and even Fourth of July celebrations. I say, why wait for summer to make and provide connections in social settings? These situations happen all year round; not just in the summer.

The other night I was waiting for a friend in a local pub and I saw a couple of former co-workers from my prior company. I hadn’t run into either one of them in several months, so I went over and said hello. We ordered a round of beverages and, as we talked, one of my former colleagues shared with me that his new company was actually doing well and he was even hiring for his department. My ears perked up? “Hiring, oh really, what for?” I asked. Within about five minutes of striking up the conversation I learned that he had not just one position, but two different positions that he was looking to fill. I shared with him that I am part of job search group and I might know some people that might fit his needs. Shortly after that my friend showed up and I expressed my appreciation for the beverage and told my former colleague that I would pass along the openings to a couple of people that might be a match for the positions.

Another day I was having lunch with a technical recruiter that I stay in touch with. This time he invited along a fellow finance and accounting recruiting associate. I always ask recruiters when I meet with them if they have any tough jobs they are currently working on. They typically give me some job with obscure skill requirements that usually only five people in the entire U.S possess. Well this day I asked him again, and as usual the recruiter threw out a job with some unique requirements figuring I wouldn’t know anyone. The requirements included being fluent in Japanese and a controller. Bingo! I whipped out my phone and started to give him a contact. He looked stunned and in disbelief, like you have got to be kidding me. I said no kidding; here is name and number of a friend that is a controller, an SAP expert and fluent in Japanese. After lunch was over, I called my friend and passed along the lead.

A couple of weeks ago, I happened to strike up a conversation with another parent on my son’s lacrosse team while we waited for the game to start. Our sons are friends at school but I hadn’t met the friend’s mother before. I don’t even remember how we got to the point in the conversation, but along the way I learned that she was battling with her former employer and the situation was moving in a litigious direction. I asked her if she had connected with an employment attorney. She said she had a referral to an attorney from a family friend. I suggested that she really needed an employment attorney instead of a general business attorney and sent her a couple of names that evening after the game. I later heard from her about the unique set of circumstances that followed. She had first met with her original family friend referral but it wasn’t a match, and then she met with one of my referrals. That attorney happened to be tied to the same school that her young children attend, and his firm had also resolved a similar case for another client against the same employer that she was dealing with. She was so surprised that she sent me an email with the subject: Small, Small World. Here is how she closed out the message: “Small world? Fate? Being in the right place at the right time? Call it what you will but know this...you played a significant part in this, whether you realize it or not, so thank you for being at the game on that day, at that time, and for stopping to chat with me!”

Small world? It is amazing how interconnected we really are. Sometimes it becomes apparent just by asking that one additional question during those casual conversations at social settings. So, strike up those conversations this summer at the barbeque or at the pool. But don’t stop there. Look for other situations as well. You never know if it will lead to another connection for you or someone that you know.