Taking the Work Out of Networking

September 10, 2018
Former Twitter editorial director Wickre delivers a sensible if unremarkable guide to networking for those who’d rather not. While many people hate networking—an activity commonly viewed as inauthentic, self-serving, and annoying—it’s particularly tough for introverts, observes Wickre. At the same time, she writes, networking is more important than ever, as people now change jobs frequently, and often work for themselves, making it essential to build a broad and varied group of connections upon whom one can call. Since introverts recharge and garner energy by spending time alone, the onus of building communities weighs particularly heavily on them. However, there’s no need to despair, Wickre counsels: in fact, introverts are particularly well set to network because of some intrinsic qualities: they’re good at listening and tend to be careful and curious observers. Wickre covers the well-trodden ground of the essentials of networking—a light touch, using social media, navigating in-real-life meetings, small talk, job hunting—with the emphasis on the no-crowds-please people who will hate it most. With little to distinguish it from nearly-identical titles already on the shelves, this is unlikely to gain much ground. Agent: Lynn Johnston, Lynn Johnston Literary.