Vanderbilt Career Center

Networking is simply connecting with people for mutual benefit.

Hands down, this is the number one way people find jobs and internships. It's as simple as the person sitting next to you telling you where you can get tickets for tonight's sold out concert. We provide information and referrals to each other every day, but for some reason, the word "networking" scares us to death.

We use different networks for different purposes. We may have a network of friends that appreciate the same hobbies, sports, and books as we do. Once you realize all of the people you know and the people your friends know and the people they know; you may have hundreds or thousands of people in your network.

To be successful in networking, you need to think about what you want to get accomplished. For example, let's say you want an internship in finance in the Boston area this summer. Think about those in your network who may have contacts in that industry and/or Boston. This may include friends, family, teammates, classmates, basically, anyone you know. If someone in your network draws a blank after being asked for contacts; always ask: ask if they know anyone who may know someone in Boston or in finance? You can also research finance companies in the Boston area to see if you have connections with any of their employees. It's like playing detective.

You can expand your network by attending VCC events like Total Access and Industry Career Days where you can meet employers and especially alumni who can help you by providing information and referrals. VU Connect is another great resource that will put you in touch with Vanderbilt alumni who are willing to share information and referrals.

Remember, if you have taken the ICAP, attended a Coaching Assessment and identified a specific Career Cluster, you can schedule an appointment (615.322.2750) with a cluster coach, who can tell you about specific companies and alumni in the Vanderbilt network.

Obviously, there are many ways to network and using social media can be very beneficial if done right. Please see the presentation from VU alumnus, Dan Ryan, who discusses "Using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to aid your Job/Internship Search and your Life".

Good luck and remember; everyone has potential to help you discover information, resources and connections to your first or next opportunity.

Resources

• Research Companies
• Attend VCC events like Total Access and Industry Career Days
• Career Cluster Coach
• Find Alumni on VU Connect
• ICAP
• "Using LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to aid your Job/Internship Search and your Life"