Why You Should Leave the House and Meet People

If you're trying to land a great job today, it can feel a lot like online dating at its most frustrating:

You spend hours perfecting your profile (your resume). You send dozens—maybe hundreds—of messages (applications) into the void. Most get no response. The ones that do are often automated, cold, and meaningless. Occasionally, you get ghosted after what you thought was a great conversation.

And the people you really want to reach—the senior managers, hiring leaders, the movers and shakers—they’re already flooded with hundreds of messages. It’s overwhelming and exhausting. No wonder job searching feels lonely, frustrating, and unfair.

Why Online Platforms Are Failing Job Seekers

Online platforms have made applying for jobs easier, but they've also made getting noticed harder. When you're one among thousands, you’re invisible. You’re just another line in a spreadsheet. It's not personal—it’s just the way the system is set up.

But there's one method that still works better:

Why Face-to-Face Works Better Than Anything Else

Research shows that in-person conversations build stronger and faster trust than anything you can do online. One study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than the same requests sent by email. Another, in Psychological Science, showed people are rated as more trustworthy and empathetic when met in person compared to video or written formats.

Why? Because in-person communication gives us context. We pick up on tone, posture, and eye contact—subtle cues that help build rapport and signal intent. It’s easier to trust someone you can look in the eye.

And that trust matters, especially in hiring. People hire people they trust. And trust is hard to build over text. It happens faster when you can shake someone’s hand, read their body language, and share a real conversation.

But face-to-face isn’t just about being remembered. It’s how you learn what’s really going on.

When you’re in the room, you hear what leaders are actually hiring for—not just what’s listed in the job post. You find out which technologies are gaining traction, what kinds of roles are evolving, and which companies are quietly growing. You pick up the language, the nuance, and the inside stories that never show up on a job board.

Over time, that kind of exposure shapes your judgment. You stop guessing what hiring managers want and start knowing. You’re not just applying anymore—you’re becoming part of the industry.

It’s not about being charming or extroverted. It’s about being human. In-person moments create connection. They build trust and context. They help others see your potential in ways that no resume or profile ever could.

Think about your own experience. How often do you advocate for someone you’ve never met, versus someone you’ve had a ten-minute conversation with? Hiring works the same way. Referrals, gut instincts, and opportunities all start with human connection.

We need more of that.

Building Space for Real-World Connection

That's why I started organizing small in-person gatherings around the GenAI community in SoCal. I called the group Ascend GenAI. I wanted to build the kind of space where smart, driven people can actually meet—not just scroll past each other.

You don’t need a fancy title or perfect resume. You just need to show up.

Because leaving the house and getting in the room might just be the thing that changes your trajectory.

Join Me in Orange County

If you're located in Orange County and eager to experience a new type of GenAI networking—focused on learning and discussions rather than screen time—take a look at our upcoming event here: "Winners and Losers in the GenAI Revolution"

We’ll have panelists who are directors of Google's DeepMind, Autodesk, and Taboola, all working on the cutting edge of GenAI. I'll be moderating.

If you are in the OC area, consider joining. If not, go to an event in your area. For a small investment of time and money, you might meet the people who will change your life.