Networking

Well, it is that time of the year once again where seniors are scurrying to find jobs and many underclassmen seek internships. I am a senior and I must agree with those who say that finding a job is the equivalent to having another 3 credit class. You are researching, writing, presenting (interviewing), and testing yourself; the time commitment is intensive. However, I do not wish to focus on this subject further, it more-or-less is a segue.

Rather, I want to talk about networking. Although I am sure you are sick of hearing how important it is, have you ever sat back and thought about how it has impacted your life thus far?

I am not asking you to bring to memory a huge, life-changing experience that occurred because you met a corporate CEO of a prestigious company. What I am saying is that much of where our life-paths lead can be connected to networking. For example, maybe you came to Penn State because your favorite teacher went here and recommended it, or perhaps you decided to join a student organization simply because your new roommate who you just met asked you to. Is this not networking? Someone connected you to something that impacted your life, if even in a small way. Do you agree?

I consider myself a fairly sociable person, and I am always up for the occasional drop-in to say hi. So when I got to know a few people who work in the Corporate Relations office, never did I think to myself “Tara, you must network by meeting these people because it will benefit your life.” I was just being me. However, looking back, I realize that the internship I had last summer and a part-time job that I currently hold with Smeal were, in part, received because I made myself known to individuals who could recommend me or refer me to one of their networks. I was networking and didn’t even know it.

Why am I telling you this? I want you to realized that networking is not something foreign or to be nervous about. It is all around you and you simply are shifting it to a more business-oriented focus. Take the time to visit your professors during office hours or to meet some of the alum who are coming to visit their alma mater. Do this, not just for the sake of your professional career, but because you never know where the conversation will lead.