Networking

Networking, LinkedIn and Handshake

Why is networking important to your success? 

The most connected people are often the most successful, and you are probably more connected than you think! Continuing to invest in your professional and personal relationships can have benefits throughout your entire career. Networking is a great way to develop and improve your own skills, stay current in your career field, and meet prospective mentors, clients, and colleagues. 

Networking can also be great for professionals looking for new career opportunities. According to HubSpot, 85% of jobs are filled through networking. In fact, according to CNBC, 70% of jobs are never published publicly. These jobs are either posted internally or are created specifically for candidates whom recruiters meet through networking. According to LinkedIn, 70% of professionals hired in 2016 had a connection at their company, and 80% of professionals consider networking vital to their career success. 

Effective Networking Strategies 

Build it into your routine

It can be difficult to prioritize networking, especially when you are new to the practice. By making it a habit to do small things like sending thank you cards after interviews or reaching out to speakers in your classes via LinkedIn, it will seem less overwhelming in the long run. A great place to start is to make it a habit to add connections on LinkedIn after you meet them. 

Make the first move

Initiating a conversation with a stranger can feel uncomfortable at first, but making the first move will feel more natural and confident with time and practice. A great place to start is to make it a goal to befriend one person in each of your classes. 

Engage with professors and career services 

Take advantage of your resources. Faculty members, professors, teaching assistants, colleagues, and career services staff are usually available to offer advice, review your career materials, or answer questions. Utilizing these connections can also teach you how to converse with future colleagues after you graduate. 

Practice your elevator pitch

When you introduce yourself to employers, you should keep in mind the information that you hope to convey.
Consider the following questions: 

• What do you know about the employer? What knowledge do you hope to gain? 
• Why are you interested in this employer?
• How do your needs connect to the employer's needs? 

Introducing yourself to strangers can be intimidating. Practice your introduction using the following template, but feel free to make it your own after you feel more comfortable: 

"Hello. My name is _____ and I am studying ____. I am interested in your organization because ___. I am very interested in ____. As you can see from my resume, I have ____ that will make me a great addition to your team." 

When practicing your introduction, remember to N.A.P.!

• N - Name 
• A - Affiliation 
• P - Purpose

Write out your elevator pitch and practice it in front of the mirror. The goal is not to sound over-rehearsed, but rather to become comfortable talking about yourself and your interests. 

Offer a helping hand 

Is there a faculty member looking for an assistant for a research project? Is there an alumnus looking for interns at their new start-up? Not only can offering a helping hand help you to network and make connections, but you never know when your kindness will be returned. 

Set goals and track your progress 

As you are getting started, it may be helpful to track your networking efforts. Perhaps you can set a goal for yourself, such as the number of connections you want to reach out to per week or the number of job applications that you would like to submit. 

Read Hanshake's blog post: Students and grads share their most effective networking strategies.

Taking Advantage of Handshake

Handshake features many ways to network with employers: 

1-on-1 Chats 

Make an impression and share why you are a good fit for a specific role with a 15-minute one-on-one video chat. 

Group Info Sessions

What's it really like to work there? Attend group sessions and events to learn more information about companies than you can get online. 

Message Employers 

Recruiters and hiring managers for roles posted on Handshake are open to messages from students. If you are nervous about networking, Handshake offers templates to help students write messages to employers. Take advantage of this opportunity to connect with them!

Events 

There are many events specifically for Ohio State students that are advertised on Handshake. Make sure you register for the events that interest you! Oftentimes, you can find events that allow you to network with employers and/or other schools.