{"id":3190,"date":"2023-02-19T16:11:52","date_gmt":"2023-02-19T16:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/chapter\/learn-it-14-4-1-career-connection\/"},"modified":"2025-05-27T22:11:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T22:11:17","slug":"learn-it-14-4-1-career-connection","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/chapter\/learn-it-14-4-1-career-connection\/","title":{"raw":"Learn It 14.4.1: Career Connection: Networking","rendered":"Learn It 14.4.1: Career Connection: Networking"},"content":{"raw":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\"><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Understand what networking is and how to use it when searching for a job&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:15171,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16777215},&quot;9&quot;:0,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;16&quot;:10}\">Understand what networking is and how to use it when searching for a job<\/span><\/section>\r\n<h2>Networking<\/h2>\r\n<p>In the context of career development, <strong>networking<\/strong> is the process by which people build relationships with one another for the purpose of helping one\u00a0another achieve professional goals.<\/p>\r\n<p>When you network, you exchange information.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>You may share business cards, r\u00e9sum\u00e9s, cover letters, job-seeking strategies, leads about open jobs, information about companies and organizations, and information about a specific field.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>You might also share information about meet-up groups, conferences, special events, technology tools, and social media.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>You might also talk about career counselors, career centers, career coaches, an alumni association, family members, friends, acquaintances, and vendors.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_183\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"501\"]<img class=\"wp-image-183\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/02\/02024940\/7975205041_7a5e4b65ff_z.jpg\" alt=\"decorative image\" width=\"501\" height=\"334\" \/> Figure 1. Your network expands with each new relationship you establish.[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<p>Networking can occur anywhere and at any time. The networking strategies you can employ are nearly limitless. With imagination and ingenuity, your networking can be highly successful.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Networking Strategies at College<\/h2>\r\n<p>Almost everywhere you go and anything you do professionally involves connecting with people. Finding a new job and advancing your career can be easier if you build relationships with these people. The most effective way to find a new job is to network, network, and network some more.<\/p>\r\n<p>The challenge is figuring out how to do it. What is your first step? Whom do you contact? What do you say? How long will it take? Where do you concentrate your efforts? How do you know if your investments will pay off?<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Get to know your professors<\/strong>: Communicating with instructors is a valuable way to learn about a career and also get letters of reference if and when needed for a job. Professors can also give you leads on job openings, internships, and research possibilities. Most instructors will readily share information and insights with you. Get to know your instructors. They are a valuable part of your network.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Check with your college\u2019s alumni office<\/strong>: You may find that some alumni are affiliated with your field of interest and are happy to have a conversation with you about their experiences.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Check with your college's career development office<\/strong>: You can learn about open job listings, employers who will be coming to campus to recruit, and organizations that have a history of hiring students from your school. You can also meet with a career counselor who may be able to introduce you to other contacts that can provide more information.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Check with classmates<\/strong>: Classmates may or may not share your major, but any of them may have leads that could help you. You could be just one conversation away from a good lead.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Networking Strategies at Work<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Join professional organizations<\/strong>: You can meet many influential people at local and national meetings and events of professional and volunteer organizations. Learn about these organizations. See if they have membership discounts for students, or student chapters. Once you are a member, you may have access to membership lists, which can give you prospective access to many new people to network with.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Volunteer<\/strong>: Volunteering is an excellent way to meet new people who\u00a0can help you develop your career, even if the organization you are volunteering with is not in your field. Just by working alongside others and working toward common goals, you build relationships that may later serve you in unforeseen and helpful\u00a0ways.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Get an internship<\/strong>: Many organizations offer internship positions to college students. Some of these positions are paid, but often they are not. Paid or not, you gain experience relevant to your career, and you potentially make many new contacts. Check <a href=\"http:\/\/www.collegerecruiter.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CollegeRecruiter.com<\/a> for key resources.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Get a part-time job<\/strong>: Working full-time may be your ultimate goal, but you may want to fill in some cracks or crevices\u00a0by working in a part-time job. Invariably you will meet people who can feasibly help with your networking goals. And you can gain good experience along the way, which can also be noted on your r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Join a job club<\/strong>: Your career interests may be shared by many others who have organized a club, which can be online or in person. If you don\u2019t find an existing club, consider starting one.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Attend networking events<\/strong>: There are innumerable professional networking events taking place around the world and also online. Find them listed in magazines, community calendars, newspapers, journals, and at the websites of companies, organizations, and associations.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Conduct informational interviews<\/strong>: You may initiate contact with people in your chosen field who can tell you about their experiences of entering the field and thriving in\u00a0it. Many websites have guidance on how to plan and conduct these interviews.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Networking Strategies at Home and Beyond<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Participate in online social media<\/strong>: An explosion of career opportunity awaits you with social media, including LinkedIn, [pb_glossary id=\"8790\"]X[\/pb_glossary], Facebook, Instagram, and many more. You will find an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.careeronestop.org\/jobseekertools\/jobSeekerChallenge.aspx?category=5&amp;subcategory=&amp;keyword=&amp;searchTab=&amp;recommanded=&amp;recommandedCategory=&amp;recommandedSubCategory=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extensive list of suggested sites at CareerOneStop<\/a>. Keep your communication formal and professional at these sites. Read blogs and magazine articles. If you find one that's relevant to your field and it contains names of professionals, you can reach out to them to learn more.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Ask family members and friends, coworkers, and acquaintances for referrals<\/strong>: Do they know others who might help you? You can start with the question, \u201cwho else should I be talking to?\u201d<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Use business cards or networking cards<\/strong>: A printed business card can be an essential tool to help your contacts remember you. Creativity can help in this regard too. Students often design cards themselves and either handprint them or print them on a home printer.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Sources for Developing Professional Networks<\/h2>\r\n<p>The bottom line with developing professional networks is to gather information from as many sources as possible and use that information in creative ways to advance your career opportunities. The strategies listed in the section above provide you with a comprehensive set of suggestions. Below\u00a0is a summary of sources you can use to network your way to career success:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>meet-up groups<\/li>\r\n\t<li>social media<\/li>\r\n\t<li>volunteer organizations<\/li>\r\n\t<li>networking events<\/li>\r\n\t<li>headhunters<\/li>\r\n\t<li>coworkers<\/li>\r\n\t<li>classmates<\/li>\r\n\t<li>conferences<\/li>\r\n\t<li>career centers<\/li>\r\n\t<li>internships<\/li>\r\n\t<li>magazine articles<\/li>\r\n\t<li>career counselors<\/li>\r\n\t<li>vendors<\/li>\r\n\t<li>administrators<\/li>\r\n\t<li>special events<\/li>\r\n\t<li>alumni association<\/li>\r\n\t<li>part-time job<\/li>\r\n\t<li>websites<\/li>\r\n\t<li>family members<\/li>\r\n\t<li>college professors<\/li>\r\n\t<li>coaches<\/li>\r\n\t<li>technology tools<\/li>\r\n\t<li>professional organizations<\/li>\r\n\t<li>job club<\/li>\r\n\t<li>career coaches<\/li>\r\n\t<li>advisers<\/li>\r\n\t<li>guest speakers<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\">[ohm2_question height=\"350\"]6543[\/ohm2_question]<\/section>","rendered":"<section class=\"textbox learningGoals\"><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Understand what networking is and how to use it when searching for a job&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:15171,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:16777215},&quot;9&quot;:0,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:0},&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;16&quot;:10}\">Understand what networking is and how to use it when searching for a job<\/span><\/section>\n<h2>Networking<\/h2>\n<p>In the context of career development, <strong>networking<\/strong> is the process by which people build relationships with one another for the purpose of helping one\u00a0another achieve professional goals.<\/p>\n<p>When you network, you exchange information.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You may share business cards, r\u00e9sum\u00e9s, cover letters, job-seeking strategies, leads about open jobs, information about companies and organizations, and information about a specific field.<\/li>\n<li>You might also share information about meet-up groups, conferences, special events, technology tools, and social media.<\/li>\n<li>You might also talk about career counselors, career centers, career coaches, an alumni association, family members, friends, acquaintances, and vendors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_183\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-183\" style=\"width: 501px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-183\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1110\/2016\/02\/02024940\/7975205041_7a5e4b65ff_z.jpg\" alt=\"decorative image\" width=\"501\" height=\"334\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-183\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Figure 1. Your network expands with each new relationship you establish.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Networking can occur anywhere and at any time. The networking strategies you can employ are nearly limitless. With imagination and ingenuity, your networking can be highly successful.<\/p>\n<h2>Networking Strategies at College<\/h2>\n<p>Almost everywhere you go and anything you do professionally involves connecting with people. Finding a new job and advancing your career can be easier if you build relationships with these people. The most effective way to find a new job is to network, network, and network some more.<\/p>\n<p>The challenge is figuring out how to do it. What is your first step? Whom do you contact? What do you say? How long will it take? Where do you concentrate your efforts? How do you know if your investments will pay off?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Get to know your professors<\/strong>: Communicating with instructors is a valuable way to learn about a career and also get letters of reference if and when needed for a job. Professors can also give you leads on job openings, internships, and research possibilities. Most instructors will readily share information and insights with you. Get to know your instructors. They are a valuable part of your network.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check with your college\u2019s alumni office<\/strong>: You may find that some alumni are affiliated with your field of interest and are happy to have a conversation with you about their experiences.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check with your college&#8217;s career development office<\/strong>: You can learn about open job listings, employers who will be coming to campus to recruit, and organizations that have a history of hiring students from your school. You can also meet with a career counselor who may be able to introduce you to other contacts that can provide more information.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Check with classmates<\/strong>: Classmates may or may not share your major, but any of them may have leads that could help you. You could be just one conversation away from a good lead.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Networking Strategies at Work<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Join professional organizations<\/strong>: You can meet many influential people at local and national meetings and events of professional and volunteer organizations. Learn about these organizations. See if they have membership discounts for students, or student chapters. Once you are a member, you may have access to membership lists, which can give you prospective access to many new people to network with.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Volunteer<\/strong>: Volunteering is an excellent way to meet new people who\u00a0can help you develop your career, even if the organization you are volunteering with is not in your field. Just by working alongside others and working toward common goals, you build relationships that may later serve you in unforeseen and helpful\u00a0ways.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get an internship<\/strong>: Many organizations offer internship positions to college students. Some of these positions are paid, but often they are not. Paid or not, you gain experience relevant to your career, and you potentially make many new contacts. Check <a href=\"http:\/\/www.collegerecruiter.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CollegeRecruiter.com<\/a> for key resources.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Get a part-time job<\/strong>: Working full-time may be your ultimate goal, but you may want to fill in some cracks or crevices\u00a0by working in a part-time job. Invariably you will meet people who can feasibly help with your networking goals. And you can gain good experience along the way, which can also be noted on your r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Join a job club<\/strong>: Your career interests may be shared by many others who have organized a club, which can be online or in person. If you don\u2019t find an existing club, consider starting one.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Attend networking events<\/strong>: There are innumerable professional networking events taking place around the world and also online. Find them listed in magazines, community calendars, newspapers, journals, and at the websites of companies, organizations, and associations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Conduct informational interviews<\/strong>: You may initiate contact with people in your chosen field who can tell you about their experiences of entering the field and thriving in\u00a0it. Many websites have guidance on how to plan and conduct these interviews.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Networking Strategies at Home and Beyond<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Participate in online social media<\/strong>: An explosion of career opportunity awaits you with social media, including LinkedIn, <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_3190_8790\">X<\/a>, Facebook, Instagram, and many more. You will find an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.careeronestop.org\/jobseekertools\/jobSeekerChallenge.aspx?category=5&amp;subcategory=&amp;keyword=&amp;searchTab=&amp;recommanded=&amp;recommandedCategory=&amp;recommandedSubCategory=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">extensive list of suggested sites at CareerOneStop<\/a>. Keep your communication formal and professional at these sites. Read blogs and magazine articles. If you find one that&#8217;s relevant to your field and it contains names of professionals, you can reach out to them to learn more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ask family members and friends, coworkers, and acquaintances for referrals<\/strong>: Do they know others who might help you? You can start with the question, \u201cwho else should I be talking to?\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use business cards or networking cards<\/strong>: A printed business card can be an essential tool to help your contacts remember you. Creativity can help in this regard too. Students often design cards themselves and either handprint them or print them on a home printer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Sources for Developing Professional Networks<\/h2>\n<p>The bottom line with developing professional networks is to gather information from as many sources as possible and use that information in creative ways to advance your career opportunities. The strategies listed in the section above provide you with a comprehensive set of suggestions. Below\u00a0is a summary of sources you can use to network your way to career success:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>meet-up groups<\/li>\n<li>social media<\/li>\n<li>volunteer organizations<\/li>\n<li>networking events<\/li>\n<li>headhunters<\/li>\n<li>coworkers<\/li>\n<li>classmates<\/li>\n<li>conferences<\/li>\n<li>career centers<\/li>\n<li>internships<\/li>\n<li>magazine articles<\/li>\n<li>career counselors<\/li>\n<li>vendors<\/li>\n<li>administrators<\/li>\n<li>special events<\/li>\n<li>alumni association<\/li>\n<li>part-time job<\/li>\n<li>websites<\/li>\n<li>family members<\/li>\n<li>college professors<\/li>\n<li>coaches<\/li>\n<li>technology tools<\/li>\n<li>professional organizations<\/li>\n<li>job club<\/li>\n<li>career coaches<\/li>\n<li>advisers<\/li>\n<li>guest speakers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<section class=\"textbox tryIt\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"ohm6543\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/ohm.one.lumenlearning.com\/multiembedq.php?id=6543&theme=lumen&iframe_resize_id=ohm6543&source=tnh&show_question_numbers\" width=\"100%\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/section>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_3190_8790\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_3190_8790\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>X is the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":21,"menu_order":20,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Strategies for Networking\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/chapter\/text-strategies-for-networking\/\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"part":3168,"module-header":"learn_it","content_attributions":[{"type":"cc","description":"Strategies for Networking","author":"","organization":"Lumen Learning","url":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/chapter\/text-strategies-for-networking\/","project":"","license":"cc-by","license_terms":""}],"internal_book_links":[],"video_content":null,"cc_video_embed_content":{"cc_scripts":"","media_targets":[]},"try_it_collection":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3190"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9704,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3190\/revisions\/9704"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/3168"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/3190\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=3190"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=3190"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/content.one.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontobusiness\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=3190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}