Networking?

[Accountable]

For those that regularly go to church:

As some know, I just moved and am without a job. Since I'm in the Bible Belt, an aquaintance suggested I join a local church for networking. He says that it's a great way to meet new people and build a business network.

That struck me as awfully manipulative. I assume it really happens, but I want to know what those that regularly attend church would think about such a person.

[BTS]

Originally Posted by Accountable

For those that regularly go to church:

As some know, I just moved and am without a job. Since I'm in the Bible Belt, an aquaintance suggested I join a local church for networking. He says that it's a great way to meet new people and build a business network.

That struck me as awfully manipulative. I assume it really happens, but I want to know what those that regularly attend church would think about such a person.

My personal view on people using church to gain material things, wether it be to get employed or seeking employees was a sin. Period!!!
I have seen it and despised it. My ex wife works for a guy that hired from the church and abused them all in some way or other.......

Originally Posted by Accountable

For those that regularly go to church:

As some know, I just moved and am without a job. Since I'm in the Bible Belt, an aquaintance suggested I join a local church for networking. He says that it's a great way to meet new people and build a business network.

That struck me as awfully manipulative. I assume it really happens, but I want to know what those that regularly attend church would think about such a person.

It's done all the time. But it's not just church. Any common interest group where people meet and work together on projects or commuity events is a great way to meet business connections. Also health clubs are a good source.

Seems to me it's just another way to get to know people besides the interview process. I don't go to church myself, but figure if someone hires someone they go to church with they probably have a better understanding of that person then the 'guy off the street'. I would be wary of anyone who applied for a job with us 'name dropping' me because of the connection however...

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by flopstock

It's done all the time. But it's not just church. Any common interest group where people meet and work together on projects or commuity events is a great way to meet business connections. Also health clubs are a good source.
...

That's a primary reason I belong to Toastmasters and the only reason I would join ASTD (a trainers' association). But to join a church to network seems especially distateful, if not blasphemous (not that I'm unfamiliar with blasphemy).

[Adam Zapple]

I don't know of anyone that attends church for the sole purpose of network, but then again perhaps I'm naive. However churches, except for maybe the mega-churches, are usually a tight-knit community where close friendships are conceived and nurtured. I know my closest friends in life have been those I met at church. I think networking is a natural by-product of involvement in a church. I suspect if one attends church just to network, not only will the results be disappointing but he/she will feel out of his element and quite uncomfortable. I don't imagine the experiment would last long.

I can relate an experience where a smooth-talking guy came into our congregation and quickly made key friends and contacts. Some soon became suspicious of his activities, notified police, and turns out he was wanted in Florida for fraud. He was a scam artist. One of the church members who was a target of this con artist, helped the police in a sting operation. The perp went to jail.

One man who came to our church for a brief period of time used our directory to call through every family in our church and sell them insurance. When that didnt work he tried to invite one family at a time over to his house for dinner. He did manage to get a few contracts signed, the men in our church are very protetive of our widows and any scammer/schemer would do well to stay away, this man was exposed because he tried to sell insurance to one of the widows. When he was confronted about it he admitted it right off. He was told to leave and not come back.

I'm the Sgt at Arms, in our church I sit at the back and any disturbances (and we have had a few) and I get up and ask people to leave... the following Sunday he walks in through the back doors, pastor gave me the look and I got up to escort him out... He never came back after that, but about a month later we got a call from another church similar to ours, he had started to do the same thing there. He went through four churches d0ing his 'selling' before he moved on.

That guy was the worst I ever saw, but we have asked others not to sell thier Amway (another name now) before.

[Wolverine]

"the Bible Belt" depending with whom you talk to that covers everything from Wyoming to Pennsylvania.

[Lon]

Originally Posted by Accountable

For those that regularly go to church:

As some know, I just moved and am without a job. Since I'm in the Bible Belt, an aquaintance suggested I join a local church for networking. He says that it's a great way to meet new people and build a business network.

That struck me as awfully manipulative. I assume it really happens, but I want to know what those that regularly attend church would think about such a person.

If you are an atheist, I would say that it would make you a bona fide hypocrite.

[gmc]

Try this-may be a chapter near you or there will probably be something like it. Why not network non churchgoers?


http://www.bni.com/

[Accountable]

Originally Posted by Lon

If you are an atheist, I would say that it would make you a bona fide hypocrite.

And what type of hypocrite would I be if I weren't atheist?