I went to a seminar today on networking. Networking is important because it is how civilians get jobs, and (don’t tell anyone) veterans are civilians too so we all need to pay attention.
Our speaker was great. She talked about important elements of networking that we should practice, such as how to introduce people, how to shake hands, and how to listen in order to impress people who might have an influence on the job search. During the discussion, topics such as mentoring and leadership came up too.
Then it occurred to me that the military already gave us those skills.
For example, we already know how to introduce people.
We know how to shake hands.
We definitely know how to listen.
In the Navy, mentorship isn’t just a word, it is a policy.
And leadership? Please. You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting leadership in the military. They even have schools for it.
So now, armed with the latest theory and a career of experience, I think I know all there is to know about networking.
