[caseysoftware]

> I was banking on going to EYEO and SIGGRAPH to network with people in the creative technology space to break into it

The secret to networking is to "network" when you don't need anything. If you meet people in your (intended) field, get to know them, learn, learn, learn, and generally establish yourself - even a little - before you need it, you'll be 100x better off when you do.

If you wait until you need it, you can come off as needy, desperate, or one of those "I only hear from them when they need something" people. I have a former friend that literally the only time I heard from her was when she was looking for work. I got in to habit of "Oh, she emailed.. must be looking for a job!" Don't be them.

[frutiger]

> The secret to networking is to "network" when you don't need anything.

I can’t emphasise this enough. Over the past decade I have built up a small network of mostly former and current colleagues. We all have mutual respect for each other, so if an opportunity or need arose neither party would feel bad about reaching out or being reached out to. After all, a positive outcome will likely be mutual.

I used to think that networking involved going to conferences and shaking hands with strangers in hallways while exchanging business cards. This was terrifying because I knew I’d be bad at it.

I was pleasantly surprised at being wrong.

[Balgair]

I think the old saying goes something like: When you want money, ask for advice. When you want advice, ask for money.

[password4321]

https://hn.algolia.com/?query=if%20you%20want%20money%20ask%...

4AE9C835E02ACB9F1F6CEA2136B1063AB33AE8D9055AE13C6D6D121B9F575972

[ramzyo]

I actually don’t see this is a negative thing, and prefer it sometimes so long as the expectations are mutual. If me and another person are on the same page about only being in touch when the other needs something, and it goes both ways, why waste time trying to facilitate a friendship for the sake of it? Often I find those “friendships” lack substance and just serve to fulfill a social norm that it’s bad to ask for things only when you need them. Perhaps what I’m suggesting is that so long as the social contract is agreed upon (usually implicitly) between parties, there’s nothing wrong with having transactional professional relationships.