Peer Career Consultant Blogs

It is not a secret that networking is arguably the most important step to finding the next internship or full-time role. It is also not a secret that networking can be one of the most terrifying experiences for a college student, especially when first starting out. However, there are many factors that are often overlooked in networking that might simplify the process for you. Here are a few notes that might help you no matter how much experience you may have with networking.

1. Thousands of internships/jobs are never actually posted online: This is the true value of networking if you are simply searching for the next internship or job. Across a majority of industries, when looking to hire, countless companies look to interview for their open positions from the people who are already in their networks. The only way to insert yourself into any network is by making the initial outreach. This outreach could come in the form of an email, phone call, or in-person conversation. While this initial phase appears to be daunting, it does not have to be. If you are sending an email, make sure that you write in a professional manner and double check what you have written before sending. If the outreach is a phone call or in-person meeting, approach it like you would any other conversation. The people you are seeking to network with are humans seeking human interaction, so try to talk about other topics outside of the roles you are interested in pursuing at that person’s company.
2. Networking should not just be about finding your internship or job: It is very evident to people that you are networking with if you are just trying to get an internship/job from your conversation with them. Some of the most valuable people in my network are people that I initially contacted to learn more about the industries they work in, and I was never seeking a job from them. Even if you are networking with someone that you are hoping to secure an internship/job with and they inform you that they are not hiring in the moment, that is still phenomenal because there are two paths that can then stem from your conversation with that person: (1) they may not be hiring in the current moment, but chances are, an opportunity opens up in a few months or years that they can then reach out to you about and (2) they may say that their company is not necessarily hiring in the moment you contacted them, but maybe they know someone else at another company that is hiring for a similar role that you were interested in. Networking truly does open so many doors!
3. Start small and then expand: If you are just beginning to network with other professionals, you do not have to start by contacting the CEO of a Fortune 500 company to find your next internship/job. Start with some of the people that you know. For instance, if you are interested in commercial real estate and you know that one of your roommate’s parents works for a commercial real estate company, ask your roommate if you could speak with that parent. Leverage the immediate network of your family and friends and continue to build from there.
4. Networking should not just be a one-time event: If you have a positive networking conversation with someone, never let that person fall out of your network. Always follow up your conversation with a thank you message, as it generally makes people feel more appreciated. To keep people engaged in your network, update them about academic, professional, and personal news in your life. It is very similar to building a friendship, and oftentimes, leads into friendships. Networking is all about building relationships and sending those updates is a great method for keeping your relationship with someone else alive. 

As you navigate through the networking experience, please feel free to lean on your Peer Career Consulting team, as we have the tools and resources to equip you with on your journey. Other resources you can leverage are the SCU Career Center, your professors, the faculty administration for your declared major or majors of interest, and each other!

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