It’s important in the world of digital media to have connections with other people. I mean, it is social media right? That means you will have to master the 2 simpe elements of professionalism and networking.
Professionalism is a fancy word for fitting into the environment you are going to be in and not making dumb faux pas that can be easily avoided. Keep calm and don’t focus on trying to be professional, and that will actually help you be more professional. Funny how that works.
It may seem like professionalism is supposed to make you act like a robot and be exactly the same as everyone else, but that’s not the case. You’re allowed to have character, encouraged actually. As long as you don’t push any boundaries you think would go too far, try to be as natural to yourself as you can be.
Networking is simply having a conversation with another person and making an impression large enough that they will think of you when the right moment occurs. It’s the same as just making friends by telling that person what you’re interested in and what you would like to help others do. Similar to making friends though, you don’t want to talk the whole time, as the other person has dreams and aspirations that are important to them, and you would do well to pay attention to what those things are
Networking is a 2-way street. A symbiotic relationship that benefits both parties. Building these relationships is important for an industry that needs people with specific skills. Even if these reasons aren’t enough to make you network more, you should know that these people aren’t just business people, they can be your friends as well.
Saying all of this makes me realize that I should get better at talking to people.