Page 23 - Carlson School GBCC Career Guide

Networking
Networking is the ongoing process of building a professional network. It is an important strategy to develop and refine while you
are in business school, as it will be essential to your success for the remainder of your career. According to the US Bureau of
Labor Statistics, at least 70 percent of all jobs are obtained through networking, and that figure becomes even higher during tight economies when employers prefer a known entity when hiring. It is important and valuable to cultivate your network even when you are not looking for a new job.
NETWORKING
Why Network?
There are numerous benefits to networking. Your network
can help you make new contacts, learn new things, identify professional organizations, present you with opportunities outside of work, and of course, help you find a job or internship. The three goals of networking are to:
• Build relationships - Your goal should be to develop authentic, mutually beneficial relationships with your contacts.
• Learn from others - The information you gain will be invaluable to you in both your job search and your career success.
• Market yourself - This is a tertiary goal, but it becomes important the closer you get to people in hiring positions. Even when you are simply asking questions and learning from a contact, how you do this tells the other person something about you.
Networking is not asking for a job or favor or “using” contacts, nor is it only useful during your job search. Networking is also not limited to extroverts—everyone can network.
Know Yourself
It is important that you are able to articulate your experiences, interests, and goals in a professional, polished, and succinct way. Be authentic in your approach. There are a variety of successful networking strategies, and you should utilize those that best
fit with your personal style. If you are an extrovert, networking events and large-scale gatherings may work well. If you are passionate about technology, you may choose to put more effort into your online presence and social media tools. Look for opportunities to articulate who you are, not just in what you say, but also through how you network. Be prepared for questions about yourself, what you want to do, and what you’re looking for. Tailor your positioning statement to respond to these questions in a prepared but natural way.
Let’s first talk about the main types of networking experiences you will have in your program:
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Formal Networking Events (see section) Informational Interviews (see section)
Career Fairs and Conferences: Career fairs provide plentiful opportunities for networking. Throughout the course of the school year, there are multiple career fair opportunities. These events, also called Affinity Conferences or Diversity Fairs, are where companies are seeking talent for both full-time and internship positions. The companies attend these fairs to seek out diverse talent or talent that is under-represented in the corporate hiring pool—specifically students of color, women, LGBTQ, and students with
military status. It is a great way to access a large amount of organizations, especially if you are seeking roles outside of Minnesota.
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Carlson School of Management