My professional network is so sticky. I know a woman who works at Pongo Resume because she is the sister of a friend I met through the wife of an ex-boyfriend.
Does that make sense?
Let me try to clarify.
- My network expanded because my husband and I took a ‘break’ between 2000-2001 (before we were married). I briefly dated a nice man who eventually married a blogger.
- That blogger became a friend of mine in real life, although I don’t talk much to her husband (my ex-boyfriend).
- The blogger introduced me to new people, one of whom is yet another blogger.
- The other blogger has a sister who is an employee at Pongo Resume.
What? Still doesn’t make sense? Who cares. The point is that you never know how and when your network will grow and expand. Be open to meeting new people. Make connections. Don’t take anyone for granted during your job search. Especially ex-boyfriends.
How does my crazy network benefit you?
Pongo Resume, who might regret being associated with me after this insane post, has sent me five (5) promotion codes for a free month of Pongo service. You’ll get a full 30 days of unlimited access to Pongo’s resume and cover letter builder, custom templates, job search tool, interview training, and live support. You’ll also receive helpful newsletters and blog updates.
Here’s what you have to do:
- Tell me about the oddest or funniest professional connection in your network. How did you meet this person? What’s the story, yo? Put your story in the comments section.
I’ll pick five winners on Sunday evening and email you the promotional code. Also, FYI, I’m about to celebrate my seven-year wedding anniversary. All told, my husband and I have been together for well over a decade.
Crazy how life works out, isn’t it?
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I worked for a pastoral school in Ohio (think “seminary”, but for a specific network of churches). During that time, someone (“J”) from the church where we administered the school went through the school and then left to plant another church (same denomination/network) in Michigan. I’m from Michigan and had never wanted to move back, mind you. Anyway, they not only get the little church plant up and running, but they also agree to be a “distance site” for the school, training up new folks there. J was my coordinator for the distance site. In November of 2004, I left the school and begrudgingly moved back up to Michigan into the Detroit area to be with a fellow I started dating (who I married later on). I started working at a university doing HR, which is why I read this blog. Lo and behold, I get a phone call about two years later from J, who was hired in at the university into a department we work closely with. He had benefits questions and when I said, “J from the XYZ school?” He was dumbfounded, since he had forgotten about that role, but our previous relationship allowed me to have a contact in a key department that allows us to get things done instead of climbing through mounds of red tape. And now on the flip side, that “little” church plant is now a full-fledged church and voila! The husband and I are beginning to attend… with J. Very interesting how things work out!
And congrats on 7 years. We had our 3-year on Thursday, but we’ve been together for five.
Sometime last winter, my cat Brewskie managed to develop himself a Twitter and Facebook account when I was at work. Unbeknownst to me at first, he quickly developed a HUGE following among other animals on Twitter (they call themselves anipals) and people who are interested in animal products and animal causes. He started pitching my pet oriented artwork to his following, and I have experienced a growing demand in my custom pet portraits ever since. Once I realized what he was up to, I allowed him to continue, although I now have to fight him for the keyboard ALL THE TIME.
One night when the Brew was twittering with his anipals, he received a tweet from another cat that read, “Are you my twin?” Sure enough, @MrScrubby and @BrewskieButt looked like identical twins, so much that their ginger and white markings were almost exactly alike! The cyber twins developed an immediate bond and they now stir it up on Twitter regularly.
Scrubby and the Brew introduced their humans to each other, and that is how I got hooked on this blog. Laurie, as Scrubby’s mom, I consider you one of my professional network’s most valuable assets.
BTW–The Brew has introduced my to some other wonderful humans that I now consider valuable additions to my professional network. I had the opportunity to meet one of the Brew’s pals’ moms at a trade show in Columbus, OH (she’s from San Diego and I am from Canton, OH) who is helping me get my artwork marketed to the hand painted needlework canvas industry. @SadieShihtzu’s mom is helping me redevelop my website in exchange for a portrait of Sadie (It is going to be the BOMB!). And I have developed a wonderful connection with the incomparable @RomeotheCat’s mom, whom I am meeting in Columbus this week to talk about a fund raising project for an animal cause. Others have ordered pet portraits and become valuable connections in other ways.
My local friends have a mix of admiration and “are you nuts?” reactions when I tell them about the Brew’s connections. Fellow artists are amazed at how I am selling my artwork all over the country and have a global following, yet they are timid themselves about meeting people through the internet. Funny how folks who pride themselves about being intrepid on the canvas are afraid to enter the global marketplace.
I agree, Laurie–Don’t take any connections for granted, ESPECIALLY if they come through your cat.
Not sure I need the Pongo tools, but just thought I would share.
i had a really great submission – it was about a recruiter working with me while I was in India for year. His name is Srini T. (T. is short for a last name that is just too long for anyone to spell/remember – Srini did us all a favor by shortening it…legally). Anyway, it’s a great story about how he made us all laugh, how he pushed us to do things we wouldn’t normally do (like take turns singing solo acapello for the team, or participating in his “Laugh Pack” whereby everone sits in a room silently until one of those church service giggles grows to a contagious roar). The story was pithy, and well written. But when I pushed ‘Submit’ the web paged had apparently timed out. I lost it all. So, take my word for it…it was definitely worthy the Pongo Prize. Thx
@Charlie Judy–I had the same problem with timing out. Luckily, I had copied my comment before posting, just in case, as I have had the problem before in other forums.
lesson learned…the hard way. thx
@CJ Whoa, that’s an awesome story. Love, faith, and networking. Who says HR isn’t interesting??
@BZ The only connections that matter are those that come through our cats.
@Charlie Oh snap, sorry.
Happy anniversary! Mine is coming up at the end of the week!
Congrats on the anniversary! When I read your post I thought it was kind of ironic that the professional network story that came to mind has to do with a wedding. I went to a wedding several years ago. The groom was a friend of my ex’s. The first person I saw when we walked in was a staffing company friend that once helped me find a job. We’ll call him Steve. After our “who/why are you here” exchange Steve tells me that Karen is also at the wedding. Karen was a former HR Director of mine who had actually referred me to Steve when I was being laid off. Steve and Karen knew the bride. Later on at the wedding, I bumped into another business connection – a marketing manager from another former company I worked with. He was a cousin of the bride. I went to that wedding thinking I’d only know the woman I was with. Turned out differently and it was all business connection related.
By the way, please don’t (and by don’t, I mean DO) let the fact that I’m presently looking for a job in Charlotte impact your decision to share the Pongo love…
Happy Anniversary! Wanna know something funny? I’ve always thought you were my sister’s friend from high school!
Signed,
Your Pongo-working blogger-sister-of blogger-of friend – of sister- of ex-boyfriend- of girlfriend’s cat’s employer… ?
@Michael Yours is Halloween, yes? Ours is Monday but I’m flying to Kennedy/Onrec, that day. Boo. Also, we decided that we’re anti-presents because we don’t need anything. Boy, anniversaries used to be more exciting. Maybe I’ll spice things up and wear jeans instead of yoga pants. I’ll brush my hair and put on some Burts Bees lipgloss. Rawr.
@Glen I have one more left (I think) and it’s yours. I will email it to you.
@Julie The crazy thing is that your sister & I went to high school down the road from one another, we’re the same age, and we were both accelerated at an early age and graduated high school one year early. So your sister and I should know the same people just by virtue of being short, blonde and awesome — but it took a weird twist of fate to connect me to your sister. And you. Now back to As the World Turns…
Well I don’t know how this benefits/hurts me professionally- BUT I’ll share anyway
My boyfriend before I met my husband- his parents and my now in-laws have had a working relationship for like 10+ years!
Oh and the aftermath of the break up wasn’t a very good one and for a while my ex did not like my now husband one bit (not sure if he’s gotten past that). Needless to say I hide behind pillars in the office whenever my ex’s parents walk through the door….
I think the funniest professional connection I’ve made came from a Lungfish show in Chicago. A friend and I decided that we were in the mood for a drink afterwards. Short on cash – I asked a guy in the crowd if he knew where the nearest atm was. He said yes and led us into a bar where he promptly bought a round. There were no atms, but plenty of friendly locals who continued to supply us with rounds. Anyways Tom and I hit it off, became good friends and he helped me to land my favorite job to date.
@Karen Whoa, that’s all complicated & sticky!
@Jamie I would have married that ATM!
Happy Anniversary, chica!!