The Importance of Networking
Written by Abhinit Kashikar
Fun facts:
85% of positions in the past few years have been filled through a referral
70% of people find jobs through inter-company connections
The bottom line is that networking is important. There are a few key tips and tricks to help you be more effective in the process.
Brothers of the Alpha Theta Pledge Class
Leverage your existing connections:
It'll take some time to develop an effective network especially if you are new in your professional career. Reaching out to family, friends, and people you already know will be key to success. More often than not, they can help you out and get you in the right direction.
Gamma Xi at the Wonsulting LinkedIn Workshop in March
LinkedIn:
This might be your best friend. The ability to search for recruiters, individuals with similar backgrounds, and people in general is extremely easy through LinkedIn. Make sure your profile is set up and start reaching out to people you want to talk to. You'd be surprised how simple the process is!
Google visit to Gamma Xi
Network to grow and learn:
You have to be prepared to fail. Not everyone will respond to your messages, not everyone will be willing to give you a referral, and that's ok. It's important to keep on trying because there is potential for something to work in your favor.
In addition, not every networking call should be about getting a referral. Look to get some actionable advice and knowledge that will help you grow and accelerate your career early on. Have fun with it too! You tend to meet some interesting people with crazy life stories which is always good to hear.
It's going to be a little tough to get into initially, but once you have everything set up you should be able to work some magic. It's ok if you fail a thousand times; you only need to get lucky once!