According to Adler, 85% of all jobs are filled via networking (2016). It is only right to open up the article with this information to show just how important networking is and how it can have an impact on the future. Job hunting can be a daunting task that leaves people defeated and frustrated. This is why I am here to tell you to get out there and start networking. I went into college thinking that I would be able to earn my degree after four years and find a job almost instantly. After taking one of my marketing courses my junior year of college, I quickly realized that earning a degree is just one part of finding a job. The other part is networking and experience. I wish this was something I would have realized before entering college because it can be very difficult for a lot of recent graduates who are looking for jobs. Luckily, I had the opportunity to play another year of basketball, so I have an extended amount of time before I have to begin the search for a job, but others typically only have about four years before they need to have everything figured out for their future.

When it comes to networking here are a few events/opportunities to keep in mind: career job fairs, workshops, LinkedIn, and internships. All of these opportunities are ways to network and meet new people. When I attended Northern Kentucky University, I met someone named Alexis. I recently sat down with her (over zoom) to discuss where she is at in life right now. She was always someone who was very involved and constantly connecting with people, so I thought it would be perfect to talk with her about how she networked in college and advice that she may be able to offer. Alexis was an athlete, ambassador for the Haile/US Bank College of Business, and a marketing intern for the athletic department. Aside from that, she was always attending job fairs on campus and career workshops. She graduated this year with her degree in Marketing. When I sat down with her, I first asked how she was doing and what she is currently doing career wise. She informed me that she started the interview process for a job in January and was offered the position at the end of March. She is a financial services professional for Charles Schwab and has been working for them since June. I asked her how she knew she wanted to go into that field and how the job came about. Alexis let me know that she interned for Charles Schwab in the summer of her sophomore year of college. She worked at an independent branch in West Chester, Ohio and loved it. She got the opportunity to intern there because she knew one of the financial advisors and asked him about the opportunity. Fast-forward two years later and she is working full-time for the same company starting with a great salary and benefits right out of college. She said that the only reason she is in the position she is in is because she reached out to the financial advisor who helped her get the internship and he referred her to the position she is currently in. “It is all about who you know”. I asked her if she had any advice for those who are currently in college and she said, “get involved”.

Whether it’s joining a club related to your career aspirations, creating a LinkedIn, going to job fairs, or doing an internship, the more people you know, the better. It can be difficult to apply for hundreds of jobs and get turned down time after time, but if you know someone within a certain company that you want to work for, you can reach out directly to them and they may even be able to reach out to other people. It is always nice to have a foot in the door and meaningful connections with people. Make the most out of your time in college because I had an internship sophomore year of college and I wish I would have started networking even sooner. If you build meaningful connections with people and have valuable experience, you will be far better off than those who do not. This recaps my time I spent with Alexis and I hope you were able to take away the importance of networking just from this brief interaction. Get out there and start networking!

Adler, L. (2016, February 29). New Survey Reveals 85% of All Jobs are Filled Via Networking.

Retrieved November 02, 2020, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-survey-reveals-

85-all-jobs-filled-via-networking-lou-adler/