by Megan Boone
Whether you’re looking for your first job out of college, searching for a new opportunity, or pivoting careers, networking is a key step in the job search process, especially in today’s job market.
In the thick of a job search, networking can oftentimes feel like an extra step or unnecessary if you’re making progress towards applying on your own.
The reality is… “An astounding 85% of jobs are filled by networking of some sort, according to a survey (pre-pandemic) of 3,000 people by consultant Lou Adler and Linkedin.”
Not sure where or who to get started with networking? Here are a handful of different groups and ways to start connecting with professionals to help you land your dream role:
Your Personal Network. People within your personal network, such as friends, family members, professors, classmates, previous managers, neighbors, etc. are a great starting point in the networking process. You may choose to simply alert these individuals through conversation that you are searching for a new role and loosely describe what you’re looking for in a role. This may then lead them to inventory their own network and see if they have any connections in areas you are interested in. You never know who may know someone that could give you a connection to an organization or another individual working in your desired industry. Starting with your personal network is a great way to begin the networking process.
Alumni. Looking to expand out from your personal network? Aside from your personal network, alumni are a great next group to start expanding your network with. Specifically on LinkedIn, there is a search tool that allows you to connect with alumni and investigate where they are working. To access this, search DePaul University in the search bar, click on DePaul University’s page, select the alumni tab and you will be taken to DePaul’s LinkedIn alumni search tool. To narrow down by interest, use the search bar with a keyword/major/job title/company to view all alumni with that keyword. Not only is this search tool a helpful way to research where alumni have landed post graduation, but this is also an opportunity to connect and expand your network. If you come across a specific alum that has an interesting job title or maybe is working for an organization that piques your interest, and you’re looking to learn more, try reaching out to schedule an informational interview. An informational interview is a low stakes way of learning more information on an individual’s role, company, career path, and ultimately allows you to expand your network. Overall, alumni are a great population to start connecting with after your personal network, especially for informational interview requests, as you have the common connection of DePaul.
Professional Organizations. Still looking to expand your network outside of connecting with alumni? Professional organizations and associations are another great way of expanding your network, updating on industry trends, along with a ton of other benefits and tools. There are thousands of different professional organizations and associations across all industries. This allows for everyone to be able to connect with an organization that resonates with their interests and ultimately connect with like minded individuals. Looking for a starting point for locating professional organizations by industry? Check out each of our career community pages on our website. Each community breaks down a handful of different professional organizations by subgrouping or industry.
You’ve connected with your personal connections and expanded your professional network…. How does your network and connections impact your job search?
Whether you’re in the beginning stages or months into your job search, it’s important to leverage and utilize your network and connections throughout your searching and application process. One specific way of doing this is taking an extra step during the application process. If you’re applying to a specific company or organization, simply use LinkedIn to search for their LinkedIn page, select the people’s tab, and one way of making a connection would be searching to see if any alumni work at that particular organization. Again, connecting with alumni is a low stakes way of connecting into a company, especially if you’re applying for a role there.
Making a personalized connection with an organization through networking in the job searching process can make a significant impact on ultimately landing a role. No matter where you’re at in the process, it’s important to expand, leverage, and maintain your network and connections.
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Wanting to start the networking process and not sure where to start? Feeling stuck with your job search? That’s exactly where we come in. Whether you’re a freshman or an alumnus, it’s never too early (or too late) to utilize our services. Book an appointment with Megan, or another member of the advising community through Handshake, or by calling the front desk at (773) 325-7431.