I’m in four - that’s four - NFL fantasy football or pick ‘em leagues this year, which is about four more than I have time for right now.

See, I love watching the National Football League, which kicked off its new season two weeks ago. And because of that deep interest, I’ve been a part of a 12-man fantasy dynasty league with old friends from Toronto for a few years now. It’s been a great way for us to keep in touch with one another, sending daily one to two-line e-mails about any developments in the league. 

“Ryan Grant is out for the year!” spawned 46 replies in an hour. Not entirely conducive to a productive work life, but not entirely distracting either. Our weekly head to head contests also allow for a lot of friendly braggadocio, which makes meeting up with these  close friends - even with years of passage between - so much easier.

 Football isn’t the glue between us, but I have daily conversations with these guys – even more so than with friends I’ve known longer. It doesn’t feel like a big deal to send out a three-word e-mail that simply asks, “Moreno for Benson?” Meanwhile, I never get around to e-mailing other longtime friends because I feel the need to write them more comprehensively – and who can find the time?

 I’m also in four other leagues. While they’re each a lot of fun to play, and the chance to win prize money is alluring, I’m in them for another big reason. They allow me to keep in touch with some former (and hopefully future) colleagues, and remain relevant, so I’m top-of-mind when they’re looking to fill positions I’d fit in.

Many of the players in these leagues are industry professionals with varying levels of influence, and because I’ve taken two years away from the workforce to get my Masters of Digital Media, I feel it’s good to remind them I’m still alive and kicking. 

I mention this because as GNWC students away from the workforce, you likely enjoy a hobby that allows you to meet like-minded people. Maybe it’s playing Starcraft II. Maybe it’s pickup basketball. Maybe it’s a hockey pool. And maybe one of the people you participate with could alert you to a job lead when you need it.

The stats say 80% of jobs come from networking or referrals - which means your best chance of working at that dream company is knowing someone who already works there.

When the head of HR at Pixar gets a weekly league rankings e-mail and your name’s at the top, it could make the difference when you go looking for a job there. 

Now, if only NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would accept my Facebook friend request...