Creating Serendipity in Your Career

When we meet someone interesting, then we see them again for a second time shortly after, a standard greeting we utter is that 'it's a small world'. Sometimes we are taken aback and think 'what are the chances of seeing them... Here, now?'

Are there statistics for this? Is some invisible force pulling us towards certain people, places, or things? Sometimes we might lump this fascinating phenomenon together with serendipity, deja-vu, or even divine intervention!

The more logical among us would say that coincidences are bound to happen, and it is the meaning that we attribute to them that makes us ‘feel' something more is happening.

Control the process for the good of your career

Wouldn't it be great if we could somehow harness this power of circumstance and use it in our favour? We could avoid bad people and situations and experience more positive meetings and events.

Well, we can do precisely this.

We do it by making good choices.

A simple example might be a decision not to go to the bar on a Friday night, but to go to bed early and then play golf, go fishing, or perhaps attend an industry-related exhibition or conference.

What are the chances of meeting valuable contacts at an exhibition? A good friend at the golf course? In comparison to an event that you can hardly remember, talking to people rattling on about their problems or the past, then feeling negative the next day.

Before long you will be meeting people that you met at the exhibition - at the golf course. You will remark about it being a small world, and both have a feeling of serendipity. You might even see the potential in joining forces to make a business deal.

What if there were a way of not only creating these fortuitous events in your life but creating them more often? What if it were as if the ‘Goddess of fate was smiling on you' - and was on steroids!

Before we get too carried away with the spiritual side of the concept,

Lets cut to the chase.

There are places where your new industry peer, hire or employer is hanging out looking for interaction. There are places where only these types of people hang out; they all assemble.

They come from all over the world, and all hang out in the same place to socialise. They discuss every industry related topic that you could imagine. They are open to friendship, collaboration and a few jokes too.

What is even more impressive is that these 'get-togethers' are ongoing, they are happening 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You will also have an opportunity as a newcomer to 'take the podium' and get your message across to hundreds, thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands if what you have to say is attractive enough to the others.

For the slower readers who haven't figured out where this fantastic networking place is yet, it is on social media of course.

You can go there any time of any day and create possibilities for fate/serendipity/divine intervention to happen. Rather than experiencing circumstances, you will be creating them. The more effort you put in, the more the odds of opportunity increase.

The fact that you are reading this here on NatResPro means you are likely to be job searching (or preparing to). Alongside any other efforts you are making, such as updating your CV and applying for positions, you need to make a concerted effort on social media.

We all know how to post a news article or click the ‘like' button, but this will not get you far. You ought to approach social media as if your network were part of your management team or drilling team. Commenting should be to help, encourage, problem-solve and support.

One advantage of social media is that is is a meritocracy, and real-world hierarchies get largely ignored. If a commenter or poster is a Fortune 100 CEO and he says something foolish... He is going to get criticised, ridiculed even. If a novice helps solve a problem or comes up with a great idea, then they will get credit.

Social media is a great leveller in this way; it means that whatever position you have in the industry, you can still portray yourself as knowledgeable, resourceful and intelligent. (Hopefully, you are these things).

As your online profile grows in stature and becomes more respected, so too will your network of influencers. Over time, many of these people will be in a position to offer job opportunities. They will recognise your name, photo, and other details. Then they see your application they will know in their gut that you are reliable and a ‘go-to' guy.

Then they will say to themselves;

"It's a small world!... What are the chances?"