Insider Finance - Business - Insider Today: A new era of networking

October 14, 2023 • 5 min read

with Diamond Naga Siu

Hey there — it’s Saturday! I’ve been cooking new dishes recently and really enjoy making copycat recipes (like my favorite Sweetgreen salad and the Carbone spicy rigatoni). I might try making some Chipotle dishes next, since the chain is raising prices for the fourth time in two years.

Before I go make some guac, I’m going to reconsider how to network after all the pandemic changes we’ve experienced. That’s our big story for today.

What’s on deck

But first, your network is your net worth.

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The big story

Networking for today

The pandemic altered many aspects of jobs as well as careers. And the changes in networking closely mirror how workplace trends have evolved in recent years.

“We're probably better than 50% back to normal, but probably not as much as 75% back to normal,” Scott Fletcher, cofounder of executive search firm Intersection Growth Partners, told me about the volume of networking he’s seen.

His line of work depends on networking, and he’s noticed a decline in touch points across the board, including conference attendance and one-on-one meetups.

Multiple experts told me the way we network has changed due to the pandemic and discussed the modifications they’ve witnessed and experienced.

Social media = networking

Cheryl Campanaro, an area director at staffing firm Adecco, told me people are finding commonality in a virtual world, which can then pivot into an in-person collaboration.

“We're pinging people on LinkedIn. We're getting friend requests on Facebook, engaging in tweets, liking pictures on Instagram, viewing videos on TikTok — believe it or not, all of that is networking,” Campanaro said.

Plus, the normalization of using online platforms has streamlined and focused the networking process. Selva Param, a partner at executive search and leadership consultancy firm Stanton Chase, told me people are now more responsive to cold DMs.

“Ever since people moved into hybrid or remote because of the pandemic, more people are actually responsive towards direct messages,” Param said. “But now I can see more than 50% or 70% of people actually respond.”

Professional and personal lines are blurry.

Shonna Waters, a vice president at leadership coaching platform BetterUp, told me more conferences are offering childcare.

Waters was recently talking with a parent about how frequently schools schedule events during work hours. But she emphasized how day-to-day interactions can also be a chance to network, like chatting with neighbors or riding in Ubers.

“You've got to kind of look for opportunities to get two-for-ones often in terms of how to get your objectives met, because there's just not necessarily a ton of discretionary hours to work with,” Waters told me.

3 things in

Travel

J. Malcolm Greany/Three Lions/Getty Images

1. Vintage photos of Alaska. Indigenous people have lived there for thousands of years. The land was controversially purchased by the US from Russia in 1867 for less than 2 cents per acre. The photos were taken from the late 1800s to 1950.

2. Comparing the $400,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost with the $140,000 Mercedes S-Class. The $260,000 price tag gap meant the difference between opulence and regular old luxury. The Rolls served up a kind of elegant simplicity and attention to detail that’s tough to compete with.  

3. What staying in a capsule hotel in an airport is like. The windowless room included a twin bed and a shower. The Darakhyu hotels in Incheon International Airport in South Korea were inspired by traditional Korean guesthouses and are paid for by the hour.

3 things in

Careers

Yuri_Arcurs/Getty

1. Hybrid workers spend an average of $51 a day when they go into the office. That's $36 more than they reported spending on a typical day working from home. Extra costs like commuting, meals, and pet care all add up.

2. U up? This hiring manager’s late-night text test. The CEO and founder of an executive search firm texts prospective hires late at night. Whether the candidates respond — and how long they take — could help determine if they fit the company’s culture.

3. Apple CEO Tim Cook’s daily routine. He wakes up at 3:45 a.m. and reads hundreds of customer emails a day. Although Cook is intensely private, he’s divulged a few details of his life: gym habits, meetings, lunches, and more.

3 things in

Life

AP Photo/Mario Cabrera

1. Photos show the most popular Halloween costumes through the years. Burlesque, presidential candidates, pop culture moments, video games, superheroes, and other themes have been popular things to dress up as. Barbie is predicted to be one of the most popular costumes this year.

2. Open floor plans are no longer trendy. Here’s how to fix it. Interior design experts suggested using furniture and rugs to divide up your home. And keep in mind an area’s function for a more well-thought-out space.

3. Life as a sugar baby can be fun, but there are a lot of misconceptions. Palmar Kelly started posting videos on TikTok to destigmatize sex work and address the misconceptions of being a sugar baby. She said the least glamorous part is the shame other people make you feel.

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The Insider Today Saturday team

Diamond Naga Siu, senior reporter, in San Diego. Dan DeFrancesco, senior editor, in New York City. Hallam Bullock, editor, in London. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York City.

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