nepotism vs. networking

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

this publication is a place for me to reflect on productivity, health and tech, and drop unique opportunities in the space right to your inbox daily. if you’re new here, sign up to tune in!💌

scroll to the end for my daily roundup on unique opportunities!

onto today’s topic: nepotism vs. networking 🕸️ 

i’ve seen these two words used interchangeably a lot recently. i believe the two terms are different and the key indicated is whether or not the person in question is qualified.

it’s not a crime to make use of connections and network. it is, however, a crime to rely on that alone and not make an effort to develop any skills.

at the end of the day, the foundations of human existence have always been personal connections because we are a social species with a biological imperative to favour our in-group.

nepotism is when john smith gets hired into a company under his dad, joe smith despite having 0 qualifications. 👨‍🦲 networking is when john smith gets hired in favour of an equally qualified candidate because he applied with a referral from a current employee at the company. see where i’m getting at? networking gives you an edge once the field of qualified candidates evens out.

recruiters can only rely so much on ats systems and interviews when there are thousands of candidates to screen. a recommendation from a trusted employee already vets that candidate and makes the person applying seem like more that just a name in a database.

networking is an especially untapped practice for underserved communities because it feels out of reach. growing a network from scratch feels daunting — there doesn’t seem to be a starting point. i was in the same spot until i started sending cold emails and messages on linkedin to people working on things i found interesting or those who were a few steps ahead of me in life. 🌱 

those emails turn into calls, which turn into relationships, and those are always rooted in the goal of helping each other grow. mentor relationships are built on the trust that you’re a capable person, and that’s the difference between nepotism and networking.

‘nepo-ing’ your way into something is the result of an obligation to maintain a relationship. getting a gig through your network is the result of the trust and work you’ve put out there and others recognizing you for it.

you’ve heard this a million times already, but go talk to people!

daily opportunity + resource drops 🔍️