Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
I like to network. A lot. Sure Networking is indispensable to your career (we've all heard that beofre), but frankly I consider it indispensable to life. I enjoy it. I get into it.
Realizing not everyone gets into it, I wanted to spell out some pointers that may help people get into the "networking rush."
Have you every worried you're not geeky enough for your job?
A weird thing to say when many of us don't want to discuss our extensive addiction to Legend of the Five Rings in a job interview, but it's actually a factor. Jobs like game programmer, artist, writer, reviewer, etc. are positions where you're expected to have a certain level of geek on display. Believe it or not, people do worry about it.
Think of your geekiness as a way of displaying certain talents, affiliations, and even knowledges and competencies. There are expectations people have, and you may find yourself actually being NOT geeky enough – or at least worrying that during that vital interview with the guy who has multiple piercings, your business outfit may have seemed a tad . . . boring.
I've had to deal with this. I still do in some cases as I'm a Project Manager in IT – I am PAID to be the dull guy with Gantt charts, spreadsheets, and organizational skill. I just do it in geeky jobs, and need to communicate my passion about the subject matter before I discuss my love-hate relationship with Team Foundation Server.
Part of a career is figuring out what you can deliver, what people want/need, and then, well, delivering it.
In an age of changing technology, changing media and changing everything, it's hard to KNOW what people want. As of the last five years or so I think technology's impact has been especially prominent in changing markets, job, and product – but I don't think what people want has exactly changed. It's actually more obvious – it's just not always want we expect.
So, what is it people are looking for in their products/services/etc.? Especially things we professional geeks like to work on and deliver?