Party with a purpose: 5 reasons to care about networking
“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
Whether you’re on the job market now or it’s still a few years away, you’ve probably heard that phrase. While it’d be nice if we were judged solely on our skills and merits, in reality a large part of any successful career is networking.
What is networking, anyway?
Your network is a powerful, loosely knit group of people communicating with each other and sharing ideas, information, and resources. From working together on projects to chatting at happy hours, your professional interactions contribute to your network.
Okay, but why should I care about it?
From finding opportunities, to landing interviews, to getting published, networking can help potential employers put a face to your name. That doesn’t sound like much, but it can really make a difference.
Still, networking isn’t just a way to get a job. Networking can also help you:
- Improve your ideas and work
- Promote your ideas
- Establish a good reputation
- Obtain letters of recommendation
- Meet new and interesting people
No matter your career direction, I hope you’ll put the power of networking to use to help you succeed.
By IHS
~Wakenya Canada
