In life people always say, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. Whether it’s getting the table with a view a fancy restaurant, getting out of a speeding ticket or a free White Chocolate Americano, it ALWAYS helps to have someone with a little bit of power in your corner. And as a 21-year-old soon-to-be college graduate, I can wholeheartedly testify that getting job, or even an interview is so much easier if you know someone on the inside. But, make no mistake, no one wants to hire someone who is disrespectful or lazy.
People often make it seem like making connections with people they don’t know is difficult but sometimes it’s as easy as asking someone what they do for a living and finding a common interest. You might say, “I’m an introvert, I hate talking to strangers” but it doesn’t have to be anything more than a act of kindness to break down the barrier. Adults appreciate the extra effort to over-communicate and over-assist when someone looks like they need help. And that’s right where you should step in.
Some people believe in karma, while others don’t but I believe you get what you work for. Creating a “good credit” for yourself is one of the best things you can do, especially those of us looking to enter the workforce. Employers want to hire people who go the extra mile for others (and themselves).
This may sound crazy but going back to pick up a piece of trash or tipping your servers well are just two simple ways to build up some of that good karma that will help you out in the long run because you really never know who you’ll meet in the process. And, the time will eventually come when you need someone to give you the benefit of the doubt and at that point, you can definitely say you’ve earned it.
It may happen on the first time you do something good or it may happen on the 100th time, but it will be worth it if it opens a door for you that never would have been opened otherwise. So be kind to others just for the sake of being kind, but also do it for you because you never know who needs it or who will be watching. Karma or not.