The LifeMaven

Here’s the scenario:

Person S and T are good friends. They are both members of the same career network. Person V is a manager at a company and also a member of that network. V has a possible job opportunity. V and S have worked together before and have previous experience together. T has worked on a project for V in their career network, but aside from that, have had little contact together.

V offers S the opportunity and does not tell T about said opportunity. Is this fair?

My take:

It is not fair, but it is simply a given when relying on an underdeveloped network for opportunities.

It is difficult to expect your network to remember you and keep you in the loop when you have little contact or previous experience with them. Especially if the only time you’re in contact is when you need help.

Meanwhile a fellow network member has been much more outgoing, and has made more of an effort keep in contact. Is it any mystery that they get the opportunities?

Furthermore, should T feel wronged that they were not given the opportunity to interview and compete when the very essence of their career network is to hear of job opportunities before the rest of the common population do?

Again, my take is: no.

If you’re a member of an exclusive network,  should you be surprised when there is another exclusive group within that network that you are not a part of?

It is all a part of networking. The sword cuts both ways as it were. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesnt.

At the very least you’re still in the same position as you were before. Still looking.

As Scott Young says, its a win/neutral situation. Not a win/lose. You don’t lose anything, you just merely remain the same.

What do you think? Was it wrong for V to favor S? Was it unfair? Surprising? Where does T go from here?

Click here to subscribe to The LifeMaven by email and never miss a post again!