How Networking can help you get a job after college
What is the one thing that you’re missing which goes beyond your resume to get a job? The power of networking within your desired industry. The majority of students who graduate from university and are on the initial job hunt out of school tend to forget how useful and powerful their connections can be in getting hired. Commonly, students that are freshly graduated tend to blame not knowing who or how to reach out to someone about jobs, but what they do not realize is that their peers and prior professor are the gateway to securing a position. The one class you’re taking but not actually enrolled in throughout your time in a university is networking and building solid relationships that are going to come in handy down the road.
According to Business Community, 85% of jobs are secured through networking and CNBC states that 80% of jobs are filled through personal connections. Not only are you going up against individuals who may have more experience than you, but you are also going up against people who may have a solid connection with a recruiter, hiring manager, employee, etc. and by someone having that connection, they are already multiple steps ahead of anyone else.
A great way to start is by reaching out to previous classmates who have jobs for advice, connect with recruiters on LinkedIn and ask If they have time to have a quick chat with you, attend industry events and network with people by having genuine conversations. Not every single person you talk to will open a door for you but it is always worth a shot and will be great practice.
One mistake that can be made when it comes to building relationships and connections with professionals is getting more than you give. You need to find a happy medium in which it is an equal amount of giving and getting between both individuals. This discourages a lot of young professionals because they tend to second guess if they can give just as much as they receive and nine times out of ten, you can.
Industry professionals are willing to help young aspiring individuals as long as they are appreciative, respectful and don’t bug them by always asking for help. The reason for industry professionals wanting to be a helpful hand for you is because they have been in your exact shoes before and know what it is like and how tough it is trying to break through in these industries.
Bio: Michael Loizzo is a graduating senior at California State University, Northridge, majoring injournalism with an emphasis on public relations. He is currently interning at Coco Moms a non-profit based in Santa Clarita through Agency 398.