SJ Longthorne

Hi! Following on from today's #EGX2019 portfolio reviews, here are a few tips I shared with attendees. If anyone has any other questions, feel free to ping them at me, and I'll get to them when I can. [THREAD]

Really useful advice! I must argue that I really don’t like the « make friends in the industry » as it will definitely scare a lot of people — networking is NOT making friends.

I disagree :) I think when we think of networking as shaking hands in suits, it’s cold and scary and all about using people. When we think of it as making friends, it’s warm and achievable and about supporting one another.

That's my take, too.

I’m not OK with this because it will definitely scare some people away. Networking, in my mind, is about sharing, giving back, helping out. You shouldn’t have to drink a pint with someone. Friends = personal in my mind. I could be wrong.

I think we have seen enough awful or terrible stories recently of how friendly networking can turn into a nightmare. Three days ago a company who has illegally used young artists work had a big party and people went to « network » and it is not OK in my book.

I think this just makes me sad because I know people I’ve met through work or through the industry who I guess I technically networked with but now I consider them friends, and I’m hope they’d think the same of me.