You have been submitting applications and a few weeks or months pass, and you have heard nothing. This is a confusing and frustrating component of the job search process. You would like to know whether the employer has reviewed your application and if you have been selected to move forward to the next round. Unfortunately, employers are not required to notify you about the hiring process. Knowing this, how might you increase your chances of hearing back? One word: networking.
Starting Point: What is Networking?
Networking is a conversation in which you are identifying helpful people, seeking to learn and share advice and information, expanding your curiosity and creativity, and creating a support network. Through networking, you are building rapport and fostering relationships with people such as industry professionals, faculty, and peers. This relationship-building provides an opportunity to ask for advice and information. For example, you might ask an alum if they can keep you in mind for opportunities that align with what you are looking for.
Take Action: How to Leverage Networking as a Job Strategy
There are a variety of ways to network including attending a virtual or in-person career event, joining a student organization or professional association, and conducting an informational interview. If you are interested in learning more what these strategies entail, visit the Career Center Networking Guide. How might you leverage these networking strategies to support your job search?
- Expand your connections
- Be willing to give and receive help
- Follow up
- Keep momentum
- Be open to telling your story
How Will Networking Help Me Find a Job?
An important part of your job search is the strength of your network. Networking opens up a pathway to learn about internal opportunities by fostering relationships with people who have access to contacts and market information outside of your own. By way of these connections and insights, you are increasing the likelihood of knowing someone who has a job that aligns with what you are looking for and knowing about a job earlier than others in the hiring process.
Sure, knowing contacts and market information is great, AND through networking, your connections can vouch for you and your skills because they know you directly. The job search is about who you know. Employers would like to hire someone who not only who is qualified for the role but also who they envision being on their team. How do they know whether you a good fit for their team? By getting to know you and connecting with you. This confidence in your fit for their team is often greater when someone they know recommended you for the job.
But What If I Am Hesitant to Network?
It is normal to feel uncomfortable about networking. It might be helpful to think about how you are already networking on a day-to-day basis such as meeting with faculty during office hours, meeting friends of friends at social events, and being a part of a project team.
You might consider breaking down networking into manageable steps. You can identify goals and actionable steps as a way to start the process. Example: Reach out to 3 people at Microsoft in the next two weeks.
Remember: The person who you are seeking to network with knows that networking is part of the search process. They were a student at one point and probably had similar feelings about reaching out.
Listen to the “What’s Career Got To Do With It?” podcast episode, “Living the dream…with Nina King” to hear her experience with networking and what her and the podcast hosts recommend for navigating the process of networking.
Enroll in a Coursera or LinkedIn Learning course on networking such as “How to Network When You Don’t Like Networking” and “What is Networking? How to Grow Your Network.”
Schedule a Career Center appointment to discuss your concerns about networking and to develop an action plan for networking that is authentic to you.
This article references information that can be found on glassdoor.com, forbes.com, and indeed.com.
