I know you've heard of the elevator pitch and people always talking about networking and the importance of it. Networking is the process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop a professional relationship and network of contacts. Networking takes place a lot in college as you're going to career fairs, interning, and even in class when you're working with professors and peers.
I'll tell a story of how my networking paid off. I had to do a journalism-style project in college. I wrote a paper about the physiological and psychological implication of sex and aging. I interviewed two professionals. The next year, I connected with one of those professionals on LinkedIn and ended up becoming an intern. Now, our relationship has even flourished into a friendship. I have similar stories with a couple of mentors and former professors/ teachers.
So, networking does have its benefits. With any relationship, you must continue to foster the relationship. Keeping in contact with the person, speaking to them outside of asking for favors, etc. - these are important ways to feed into your professional relationships.
Best practices for networking include: attending career fairs, attending professional development sessions, joining organizations, using your LinkedIn pages, reaching out to Alums, etc. It can be difficult to network if you're an introvert like me, but it's best to get into the habit of going to these events and trying because this is how you put yourself out there. Always be sure to have updated copies of your resume, and business cards (if possible). Dress professionally and be yourself. Practice your elevator pitch.
Use resources available to you on campus, such as the communication center or career center to help you prepare. Do some mock interviews and practice your elevator pitch in front of others.
Good luck and happy networking!
Comments