How Does Networking Really Work?

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By Jennifer Seidman, Graduate Career Management Center Career Advisor

We all have been invited to “Networking Events” and possibly attend them with dread, or even worse, do not go at all.  We think: I am not comfortable walking up to complete strangers, or I am not looking for a job right now, or the people there can’t help me, or I do not have the time.  Well, I am here to tell you that based on hundreds of interactions I’ve had with graduate students, carving out time in your busy schedule and overcoming your discomfort to attend these events is vital to your career!

Building a network takes time and it doesn’t happen in one encounter.  For example, there is such a great opportunity for our students to prepare for the Fall recruiting season way before the Fall semester even happens.  In the next couple of months there are 20+ Zicklin Graduate Club Events, many of which will have employers in attendance.   Now maybe those employers are not hiring at this moment, and possibly the employee you meet today will no longer be working for that same firm in the near future, but none of that matters. 

Having multiple touch points over time is the key to building a network.  As an example, on February 4th EY hosted a Fraud Investigation event.  If you attended that event and then participated on February 24th in EY’s information session, you now not only have more insight into EY, but from EY’s perspective you are showing significant interest in their firm.  Next, EY will be back on campus on March 17th to present How to Handle Difficult Workplace Situations.  But you say to yourself: I am not currently working so I do not need to listen to a discussion on problems in the workplace.  But you would be so wrong! A profound message is sent to EY each time you attend one of their events, and if you attend the March 17th discussion, you will have met with an EY employee for a third time! 

The payoff is not immediate, but when EY comes back to recruit at Baruch in the Fall, those students who have showed interest in their firm over time are the memorable ones.  Those are the students that have made an impression, have shown genuine interest and will be more comfortable and likely have more to talk about when reintroducing themselves at the CPA fair and recruiting events.

Even that employee, who no longer works at EY, will appreciate you reaching out to them at their new firm.  You now can let them know you met a few times at EY events and wanted to congratulate them on their new role.  Guess what? You just expanded your network!

To get a head start with your networking skills; check out our list of events coming up this Spring: 

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