What is it called when individuals connect to build relationships for potential career advancement?

The term used to describe the process of individuals connecting to build relationships for potential career advancement is networking. Networking involves engaging with others in a professional context, fostering connections that can lead to opportunities for job searches, collaborations, and career development. It goes beyond casual interactions, focusing instead on establishing meaningful relationships that can support one's career goals.

Networking is crucial in many fields, including the restaurant industry, as it allows individuals to share knowledge, gain insights, and learn about job openings or advancements from peers and industry veterans. It often occurs in professional settings such as conferences, seminars, and industry events, where individuals can interact with others in their field.

While socializing can refer to casual interactions which may not lead to professional advancement, and mentoring typically involves a more experienced individual guiding someone less experienced, networking specifically focuses on creating a strategic professional network. Recruiting, on the other hand, is the process of finding and hiring candidates for positions, which is a different concept altogether.