I had an awkward experience a few weeks ago while riding the subway in New York City. I overheard a woman talking to her friends about how her fashion company was short-staffed and actively interviewing candidates. Since I have some experience in the fashion industry, I thought it might be a good opportunity to network, so I approached her and asked if I could have her business card. To my surprise, she snapped "NO" and turned away from me, along with her friends who avoided making eye contact. I felt embarrassed and angry by her rude response. While I understand she wasn't obligated to give me her information, her attitude really caught me off guard. As a mixed Black woman, I couldn't help but wonder if their reaction had any racial undertones, especially since they were all White except for one Asian woman in the group. I'm now questioning whether I made a social mistake by asking for her business card so directly. I’m on the autism spectrum, which sometimes makes social interactions challenging for me. I thought being proactive and trying to network was a good approach, especially since I’ve been feeling burned out from endlessly searching for jobs online. Growing up, I always heard that New York is a place full of opportunities, but it seems that might not be the case for everyone. I'm left wondering how others in NYC are finding jobs, because I definitely don't want to put myself in that situation again.
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