So you made
it through law school finals and headed home for the holidays. Congratulations! The only problem now is that your CSO (and
everyone else for that matter) keeps telling you that you need to “network.” Whether you have a job lined up or not, that
word keeps buzzing around like an annoying gnat. Don’t they know you are wiped out and the
mere thought of having to do something
else is going to send you right over to the edge??
“Networking”
has become one of those insidious corporate buzz words that seems to be the
panacea of all problems anyone might ever face. Because it has an official
name, it seems unattainable by anyone that is not a perfect conversationalist or
social butterfly. The word itself now seems filled with an undercurrent of
wanting to get something from the other person – i.e. a job. That’s a lot of pressure for both you and the
other person!
Relax. The holidays should not be filled with even
more pressure and tasks. It should be
about having fun, reconnecting with old friends and family, and making new
connections with interesting people. Instead
of focusing on networking, focus on connecting.
Just in
case you have forgotten, here is a quick reminder of how to connect with others
and have fun over the holidays:
Go to a holiday party with friends and family.
- Talk about your experiences in law school with friends and family
- Ask your friends and family what they have been up to
- Meet new people at the party and ask them about their interests
- Tell the new people about yourself and your interests
- Promise to keep in touch with the people you just talked to!
