Before I go make some guac, I’m going to reconsider how to network after all the pandemic changes we’ve experienced. That’s our big story for today.

• Travel: What staying in a tiny hotel located in the airport is like.
• Careers: The literal cost of hybrid workers going into the office.
• Life: Debunking common misconceptions about life as a sugar baby.

“We’re probably better than 50% back to normal, but probably not as much as 75% back to normal,” Scott Fletcher, cofounder of executive search firm Intersection Growth Partners, told me about the volume of networking he’s seen.

His line of work depends on networking, and he’s noticed a decline in touch points across the board, including conference attendance and one-on-one meetups.

Multiple experts told me the way we network has changed due to the pandemic and discussed the modifications they’ve witnessed and experienced.

Social media = networking

Cheryl Campanaro, an area director at staffing firm Adecco, told me people are finding commonality in a virtual world, which can then pivot into an in-person collaboration.

“We’re pinging people on LinkedIn. We’re getting friend requests on Facebook, engaging in tweets, liking pictures on Instagram, viewing videos on TikTok — believe it or not, all of that is networking,” Campanaro said.

Plus, the normalization of using online platforms has streamlined and focused the networking process. Selva Param, a partner at executive search and leadership consultancy firm Stanton Chase, told me people are now more responsive to cold DMs.

“Ever since people moved into hybrid or remote because of the pandemic, more people are actually responsive towards direct messages,” Param said. “But now I can see more than 50% or 70% of people actually respond.”

Shonna Waters, a vice president at leadership coaching platform BetterUp, told me more conferences are offering childcare.

Waters was recently talking with a parent about how frequently schools schedule events during work hours. But she emphasized how day-to-day interactions can also be a chance to network, like chatting with neighbors or riding in Ubers.

“You’ve got to kind of look for opportunities to get two-for-ones often in terms of how to get your objectives met, because there’s just not necessarily a ton of discretionary hours to work with,” Waters told me.

2. Comparing the $400,000 Rolls-Royce Ghost with the $140,000 Mercedes S-Class. The $260,000 price tag gap meant the difference between opulence and regular old luxury. The Rolls served up a kind of elegant simplicity and attention to detail that’s tough to compete with.

3. What staying in a capsule hotel in an airport is like. The windowless room included a twin bed and a shower. The Darakhyu hotels in Incheon International Airport in South Korea were inspired by traditional Korean guesthouses and are paid for by the hour.

2. U up? This hiring manager’s late-night text test. The CEO and founder of an executive search firm texts prospective hires late at night. Whether the candidates respond — and how long they take — could help determine if they fit the company’s culture.

3. Apple CEO Tim Cook’s daily routine. He wakes up at 3:45 a.m. and reads hundreds of customer emails a day. Although Cook is intensely private, he’s divulged a few details of his life: gym habits, meetings, lunches, and more.

2. Open floor plans are no longer trendy. Here’s how to fix it. Interior design experts suggested using furniture and rugs to divide up your home. And keep in mind an area’s function for a more well-thought-out space.

3. Life as a sugar baby can be fun, but there are a lot of misconceptions. Palmar Kelly started posting videos on TikTok to destigmatize sex work and address the misconceptions of being a sugar baby. She said the least glamorous part is the shame other people make you feel.

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• A support group for shark attack survivors called Bite Club.
• RIP: The world’s oldest skydiver died one week after her parachuting feat.
• This woman moved for a new job, but found out seven days into the role that she was never hired.

• From Monday: Shopify
• From Tuesday: Meta
• From Wednesday: Caroline Ellison
• From Thursday: Missy Cummings
• From Friday: Crumbl

Diamond Naga Siu, senior reporter, in San Diego. Dan DeFrancesco, senior editor, in New York City. Hallam Bullock, editor, in London. Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York City.

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