3 questions to Tijen Onaran: "Without socializing nothing works in the job"
Q: What three things should we know about networking?
Tijen Onaran: First, it does not matter which position or job title someone has - the deciding factor is who works on which project!
Many think they always have to approach managers or executives directly, and it's more important to know the people who really work on the issues. About them you get current developments, and you can get into the projects.
Second, networking is a very long-term business. Contacts do not grow spontaneously when you need them. Only those who network sustainably and play for a long time can benefit from their network.
Thirdly, today we need so much competence in so many areas that we can not afford it on our own. We MUST outsource most of the talents and skills to our network.
So why should our contacts be versatile? it is not enough if we are only linked with software developers. We also need people who are social media professionals and those who repair our washing machine.
Tijen Onaran is in his early thirties, comes from Karlsruhe and studied politics, history and public law in Heidelberg. Following positions in politics and business (e-commerce), Tijen set up her own business in 2016 with Women in Digital e.V. - the network for modern women.
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Why is networking important?
Our working world is changing. Stupid assembly-line tasks that a human can do alone will be less and less. As we do so, our work becomes more complex and we will increasingly team up in project teams to tackle them.
After all, our work world is becoming much more human and interesting through digitization? After all, we are, above all, social beings, and in the future, work will lead to more socializing.
Are men and women different in networking?
Often women are more empathic, which sometimes makes it harder for them to think in terms of goals and to strategically network. But we should always be clear: Our network is not our circle of friends.
Friendships can develop, but they do not have to. This attitude can make it easier to connect with new people without expectation.
Dear Tijen, thank you for the interview!
