Industry Night: Networking Lessons and AI Insights

Industry Night Reflections

Yesterday’s Industry Night event turned out to be quite enlightening. I had several meaningful conversations that sparked some interesting thoughts about the current state of the job market and how we interact with technology.

I met a guy from Vietnam who’s pursuing a Master’s degree in AI at Uoa. While we didn’t dive deep into academic topics, he shared his perspective on the current job market – that it’s pretty rough right now. I completely understand where he’s coming from, and honestly, I’ve been feeling the same way.

But here’s the thing: I still believe in the concept of “the darkest hour before dawn.” When everything feels frozen and the job market seems horrible, that’s often a sign that change is coming. Spring isn’t far away. I’m holding onto that hope.

A New Perspective on AI Usage

One of the most valuable insights came from a conversation about AI and how to use it effectively. Someone made a point that really resonated with me: don’t just blindly follow AI – treat it as your staff, not your teacher.

This completely shifted my thinking. If I’m the business owner, I can’t just listen to whatever my staff tells me without question. I need to give orders, provide guidelines, and set direction. I should learn from my staff and let them explain things, but I shouldn’t believe them blindly. I need to double-check and verify.

This idea sparked an even bigger realization: if I’m treating AI as my staff, should I be treating myself as a company? My brain is the CEO, my body is… well, the workforce. I should run myself like a business – think like a project manager, give my body clear directions, and use AI and other tools as staff members.

This is a completely fresh perspective for me. There are still many unclear aspects to work through, but the core concept feels powerful: manage myself like a business, think like a manager, and use tools as staff.

Networking Insights and Challenges

I also spoke with a recruiter who was incredibly friendly and gave me some practical advice about building connections. Right now, I’m trying to build my network on LinkedIn, though I’m not entirely sure how useful it will be. But I figure it’s worth trying – worst case scenario, it’s just not helpful.

He shared a story about reaching out to people directly on LinkedIn for coffee chats. I really want to try this approach, but I’ll be honest – I’m nervous. I feel like I don’t have much to offer in those conversations. But logically, I know the worst that can happen is they don’t respond. How hard can that be?

The key insight he shared was not to jump straight into asking for coffee chats. I need to build a genuine connection first. I shouldn’t treat people like tools – I should focus on building real relationships.

Moving Forward

The recruiter made an important point that stuck with me: no matter what you learn, if you don’t implement it, it’s useless. So I’m committed to putting these insights into practice.

I will try reaching out to people on LinkedIn. I will work on building genuine connections. And I will start thinking about myself as a business that needs proper management.

The nervousness is real, but the potential for growth is worth pushing through the discomfort.

These conversations reminded me that networking isn’t just about collecting contacts – it’s about building meaningful relationships and learning from others’ perspectives.