Networking

Go Beyond the Internet: Network

Don’t just use the internet to search for a job. It’s not the only job-search technique, and many people will tell you it’s not the best one. A big portion of your job-search time should be spent connecting with people and networking. Talk with all your contacts—family, friends, family friends, professors, advisors, teaching assistants, internship or summer-job supervisors, recruiters from career fairs, and so on. Tell them about career fields that interest you, and see if they have any suggestions or job leads.

What is Networking?
How to Contact People and What to Say
Don’t Be Intimidated by Networking
Benefits of Networking

What is Networking?

Networking means building professional relationships. You can plan this out or do it spontaneously. When planned, you often just contact someone to find out if you have mutual interests, then have a conversation about those interests. When you meet new people and discuss mutual interests or goals, you're networking spontaneously. You’ve probably been networking for years without realizing it. You’re networking when you:

talk to friends, or friends of friends
chat with your neighbors
volunteer somewhere
stay in contact with professors, instructors, advisors, etc.
attend a professional conference or lecture series
do an informational interview
strike up a conversation when you run an errand
talk to the person next to you on the bus

How to Contact People and What to Say

In addition to networking with people you know, you can network with complete strangers. It’s very common in the world of working professionals, and there are many ways to find people to contact. For specific ideas, see How to Find People to Interview in our Informational Interviews section. That list works just as well for networking as for informational interviewing, and the two are very related.

Phone Tip
If you’re interested in a specific company or open position, and the job listing says “No phone calls please,” respect that.

Networking by phone is often the best method. Many people are more likely to respond to a personal call or a voicemail message than to an e-mail. If you don’t hear back after 3 or 4 days, then you might try sending an e-mail. You can also leave a voicemail message that explains how to reach you by phone or by e-mail, in case e-mail is the person’s preferred contact method. When you do call, tell the person a little about yourself, including:

Your name.
How you got their name.
Why you’re calling and what you want to talk about. (For example, maybe you want to learn more about their career, industry, or company. Or maybe you seek information about opportunities in the field.)
Also ask if they recommend anyone else you should contact.

Don’t Be Intimidated by Networking

Sometimes students think networking is too difficult, or that it's inappropriate. That's not true. Networking becomes relatively easy after a little effort and time. If you’re shy, or if you’re uncomfortable contacting people you don’t know, that’s understandable. But keep in mind the worst response you’re likely to get is someone saying they’re too busy to talk (or no response). Most of the time, people will be happy to share information about their work, company or profession.

Benefits of Networking

For the job seeker, you might:

Find out about jobs that aren’t posted or advertised.
Get insider information about your field and how to pursue work in it.
Get insight from a working professional that will help you determine if this career is a good fit for you.
Make contacts who could lead you to even more valuable contacts.

For the working professionals you contact, they can:

Connect with someone interested in their field.
Get to know a potential job candidate more personally.
Possibly find a new employee without having to advertise or go through the hiring process.

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