On "networking"

It’s lore in the working world that we all must “build networks”. This evokes images of dreary business lunches and awkward LinkedIn DMs. But strip it of business trappings, and networking reduces to people getting to know one another.

As a budding software engineer, this can be terrifying. Maybe tech is like one of those fancy clubs with a bouncer who looks you over and refuses to let you in? That’s imposter syndrome in a sketch: ever being the wallflower at the party. But it’s also a natural anxiety about making yourself vulnerable, and making yourself vulnerable is fundamental to all relationships that matter.

I’m not saying you should get over yourself. But, you know, when you have a job, your coworkers will be working with you, the real you. If that’s to happen, you’ll need to peel yourself off the wall and mix.