Networking 101:

Sometimes my friends get really stressed out when I ask them about networking. But this shouldn't be the case! Usually they assume that their network is spread thin, they haven't had the right job opportunities to have great referrals, etc. The reality is that they have been networking since they first stepped outside of their house. Beginning to build a network is usually just as simple as talking to the people you know and telling them that you're looking for a summer internship.

If you are a freshman looking for an internship, I suggest doing the following:

1. Talk to your parents and extended family and ask them if they know anyone who works in your area of study.
2. Ask your close friends from high school and grade school if their parents know anyone who works in your industry.
3. Talk to your professors.
4. Talk to your advisor, faculty fellow, or other faculty members you have met.
5. Talk to your friends at WU about your interest in finding a summer internship.
6. Go to the Career Fairs and introduce yourself to employers. Ask for their business cards. Even if you are not eligable for an internship at their firms this year, at least you've already made a significant contact at a firm you're interested in.

If you have run through all of these steps, you will already have a significant list of people to go to for help finding an internship or job down the road.

The bottom line is in order to find a job, tell other people that you are looking for one. show them your passion for what you do, and they might even be willing to help you out.

Parents and Networking

This weekend is Parents Weekend, and we all know that means… free dinners! But it’s also a great chance for something you may not be thinking about. Networking! No matter what you want to do after you graduate, you can end up with a couple contacts if you take advantage of this weekend and talk to the right parent.

If your friends know what you want to do after Wash U, they will probably let you know if there’s a way they can help you out. And now is a really important time for them to know, because if their parents are coming to town, you can actually have an in-person conversation with a parent in that field or who has connections to that field. This really doesn’t have to be anything formal, but chances are high that some parent will ask you what you want to do after you graduate. Even if you really don’t have much of an idea, if you can come up with a general response, you’re giving that parent a chance to help you out. And in this economy, we really can use all the help we can get!

So just spend a couple minutes thinking about a general way to describe what you're hoping to do after you graduate, and talk to a few friends about your plans. There are few things that involve little time and risk and give you the chance for a big reward, but this is definitely one!