One of the earliest career tips I received was to meet everyone I could possibly could, because getting a job today really relies on face-to-face connections. I won't lie... this is not my favorite thing. I'm just not the kind of guy who runs up to strangers to talk about how I'm changing my whole life around.
I'm sure I'm not the only shy coder out there. As someone from an entirely unrelated background, of course I feel like an impostor amongst the pros.
Well after weeks of anticipation, I finally attended my first Meetup — the NY Tech Meetup. It was probably the best grand entrance into a new community, with hundreds of attendees, the Skirball Center auditorium at NYU was packed to the brim!
Presentations included many very interesting startups, from furniture marketplaces, to language education, health, and even a cool AI personal assistant for your e-mail account.
There was lots of mingling, schmoozing and bumping elbows. I learned a lot, trying to be shameless about how green I am. Regardless, everyone I met was understanding of my position and very supportive. So far, the support has really been a warm welcome.
If you're like me, a newbie in such an advanced world, don't worry too much. Ignore those nervous thoughts and just pretend you belong, even if you don't believe it. Work out your elevator pitch, commit to a meetup, and put on a mask. You'll soon find that you won't be pretending anymore.
Afterwards there was the added perk of free alcohol and cake! I suppose I can muster the courage to mingle if cake is involved. 😝
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