Someone gave my name as a reference for a service I use as part of my marketing efforts (not to mention that I made some profit out of it) and I managed to turn the call into what seems to be a great opportunity in disguise.

It took me 10 minutes on the phone to learn that everything I’ve heard about the Research Triangle Park in N.C. is true, and at the same time I managed to make a contact in the Marketing world over there, someone nice to talk to and who could open some doors for me.

We have all heard about Networking activities, dinners and such, but could it be that just having your eyes open for the right kind of people would prove more successful than walking around with your resume in one hand and a martini in the other to one of those networking cocktails?

I would like to hear some networking experiences.  How do you network your professional career?

Related Posts:

• July 22, 2009 -- What Revolutionary Road Taught Me about Work and Life (3)
• July 2, 2009 -- Creating Work (3)
• June 29, 2009 -- Promotions are like Santa Claus (2)
• June 25, 2009 -- The Connection Between Happiness and Your Job (4)

We all dream of the moment when someone recognizes our hard work, and this is one of those moments.  Your boss, and sometimes his/her supervisor will realize that they have a valuable employee on their hands, but he/she is incredibly underpaid, therefore they go for these “Fake Promotions” to keep us happy.

But Promotions are like Santa Claus, you can believe all you want, but if that Fat Jolly Bastard don’t bring you some toys, he won’t be getting any cookies next year, because you stop believing (we could use the analogy of “The boy who cried wolf” also, but let’s save that one for some other day).  Promotions with no monetary or benefit increment are as useless as a new pair of “Business Socks”, they will make you feel good for a couple of days, but that’s it.

I’m not complaining, but I like to share with the new generation, that though these Fake Promotions are a big compliment, I advise everyone to let their superiors know that they are not naive enough to fall in love with your company because of your new title, and though you are flattered, you will continue your search to achieve your goals, monetary or otherwise.

This may be a good time to ask for a raise, you may not get it, but after all, it was their idea to promote you, not yours.

Related Posts:

• June 17, 2009 -- Welcome to the Young and Employed Blog! (1)
• August 6, 2010 -- Go back to watching “The Hills” (0)
• July 20, 2009 -- Networking for smart dummies (1)
• July 2, 2009 -- Creating Work (3)

Thank you,

Jess and Frank

Related Posts:

• June 29, 2009 -- Promotions are like Santa Claus (2)
• August 6, 2010 -- Go back to watching “The Hills” (0)
• July 20, 2009 -- Networking for smart dummies (1)