The More People You Know, The More Places You'll Go

Networking is essential in terms of professional development for students. It’s all about making and keeping up with connections. It’s incredibly important to do; our most current Post-Grad Report shows that a large majority of students gained connection with their first job through networking. 70% of students reported that they gained contact to their first employer through networking; this included working for the employer in the past and contact through employees, a professor or other faculty member, friends and family, alumnus/alumnae of Virginia Tech, a peer from a club, sorority or fraternity, and career and job fairs.  With 70% of students reporting that, it’s hard to deny that the saying, “It’s all about who you know,” is largely true.

Results compiled from Virginia Tech's 2014-2015 Post Grad Report

So how do students go about networking? Well, there are many ways to go about doing this. Let’s start with the most common one: job and career fairs. We are fortunate enough to go to a school that hosts a variety of career fairs every year with hundreds of employers. Be confident enough to attend them! Do your research; figure out which companies appeal to you and what kinds of experiences they’re offering. Practice your elevator speech and make sure that it sounds natural. While going to career fairs and speaking with potential employers can be daunting, at the end of the day, you’re just having a conversation with another person. They’re not scary and they don’t dislike you. They’re there to talk to you about their company and help you figure out whether or not you’re a potential match. Once you make the connection with the recruiter at the fair, be sure to ask for a business card and contact information so you can send them a thank you note or email after having your conversation.

Another great way to network is using your existing connections. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends about what their internship positions have been like and if they have a contact that you could use. Your friends and peers can be one of your best resources, and so can your professors and other faculty or staff members. Faculty members in your major can be wonderful resources. They’ve likely made connections both within and outside of academia and have worked with hundreds of students before you and know who could be good points of reference for you.

Lots of students have a LinkedIn profile but aren’t totally sure how to use it, in a way that is helpful for them. First, make sure you have a strong profile. Include a professional headshot, a summary, past experiences, education, and skills. Start adding people you know—send them a customized invite stating how you met each other and saying you’d love the chance to connect. Something great LinkedIn offers is a Student Jobs Portal. This site allows you to search for internships or entry-level jobs and shows you if you have any connections with people at the organization.

Networking is all about communicating with others professionally, and it's definitely something that needs to be practiced and developed. Although it can be daunting, it's a great way to find a path to a good internship or first job. After all, the more people you know, the more places you'll go.