What is Networking?
Networking is connecting with individuals who know about or work in career fields of interest to you. Most students network regularly without knowing it through social media, campus organizations, attending job fairs, or with peers in class. You can also be intentional about networking by joining LinkedIn, PeopleGrove, or a Professional Association.
The more you network, the more opportunities you give yourself to meet and establish relationships with people who may be influential in your career.
One way to network is to set up Career Chats (Informational Interviews), which is a conversation with a professional that gives you an insider view into a job/industry you’re interested in. You can learn things like:
● What people actually do at work
● What people like and dislike about their job
● How people get started in the field
● Current trends in the job market
Networking Tools
PeopleGrove
A place for students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community partners to connect!
A website for connecting with professionals from around the world.
Professional Associations
A network of people who work in the same industry or career field.
Common Myths & Reframes
REFRAME: Networking allows you to exchanging information, advice, and support on challenges. It’s for folks at any stage in their life and career.
REFRAME: Networking is about creating relationships and connections with others so that you can share resources and opportunities. It should be a relationship that is two-sided, and benefits all involved.
REFRAME: Networking is all about building supports, so anyone can participate. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to make connections! Simply play to your strengths and focus on one-on-one relationship building.
REFRAME: Whether you know it or not, you have a community of people around you who are able to support you as you build your professional life. Think about: classmates, friends, family members, past/present coworkers, supervisors, teachers, faculty, staff. Additionally, it’s not just about who you directly know, but who they know. Ask your community if they know anyone who may be in your field of interest!
