How to network...the non-grimy way

I say it all the time, everyone says it all the time..."network, network, network...it's not about applying, it's about who you know." after a while, hearing that over and over gets frustrating.

So how do you network? If you've been following me for a while (or even just a week) you've heard me talk about the power of DMing on twitter and LinkedIn. But DMing can feel awkward when you're reaching out to someone for the first time and you want to ask about a job. So guess what? Don't do that.

Reach out to people so you can learn from them and be their friend. Don't be friends with someone because you need a job. That's the grimy networking. Here are a few examples of non-grimy networking:

1) Liking and commenting on their statuses: if they're on twitter or LinkedIn, follow them and interact with their posts. A friendship will happen organically if the two of you click.

2) Asking for advice or insights: asking someone about their expertise or knowledge in a given area is a great way to start a conversation and show that you're passionate without talking about your need for a job.

3) Establish a common interest: maybe you're both fans of the same team or netflix show. Just talk about that.

4) Build a community: if you have a passion, whether it's online gaming, sports, or corgis (I'm a corgi guy myself), start a meetup! A lot of networking can come just from social groups and meeting people who eventually need someone with your skillset.

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