young me especially would have hated hearing this but networking is literally the most important thing you can do to improve your situation like forget economic barriers to education etc just keep making friends with different people and eventually someone will offer you a hand up just because they dig your vibe and that is exactly all that’s happening when undeserving people surpass you anyway
When I look at how I survived my 20s, it was always helpful friends putting work my way. And often the helpful friends were people I had only known for weeks.
I think we do young folks a huge disservice in how we teach them to network. Happy hours and cold messages on linkedin are useless to you when you’re just starting out- they’re not going to make anyone like you! No one is going to want to hire you or help you out based on a 10 minute conversation and a business card. It’s awkward and a super unbalanced transaction.
But having and making genuine friends (however you feel most comfortable doing so!) is how you’re *supposed* to network. Even if your friends aren’t powerful or in the sector you want to work- they are the people who want to help you! No groveling email required!
When I was working as a barista, I had a handful of regulars I spoke to every day and looked forward to seeing. We only knew each other through 5 minute conversations, but we knew each other and liked each other. Of these regulars:
- I told one older lady that I hadn’t been able to bring my winter clothes when I moved, and she gave me a coat and gloves she was planning to donate.
-I told one gentleman I was planning to take the foreign service exam, and he (having taken it a decade prior) gave me his old study books and gave me tips on the interview.
-I told a girl who I spent over an hour talking to on a slow day that I was looking for a job, and she RECOMMENDED ME for a job at her company and I got HIRED.
I didn’t give any of these people anything other than my time (and the occaisional end-of-day stale pastry) and they changed my life entirely.
I didn’t have to prove to them that I was smart or hardworking or friendly or anything at all. They knew me and liked me- and that was enough.
Make friends! Help them as much as you can! There are very little downsides to meeting new and lovely people.