If you don’t put yourself out there, writes the author, you’re just another semi-impressive resume.
When I lived in New York City, the second I stopped applying for jobs online was the second I got one.
Of course, not every city has thousands of people applying for one job. But it was in that moment that I saw the importance of networking. And as I’ve advanced in the career world, I’ve also realized that networking by itself might still not be enough.
Here’s why networking and grad school truly are the best combination when looking for a job.
The case for networking
Let’s do an exercise. In this scenario, you’re an employer. Decide who you’re going to hire:
- Someone you know with a bachelor’s degree from Harvard vs. someone you don’t know with a bachelor’s from Harvard.
- Your best friend with internship experience vs. a stranger with three months of professional experience.
- A friend of a friend with an impressive resume vs. someone you’ve never met with an equally impressive resume.
For most of us, the answers are obvious.
And if they’re not, statistics point to the person with the connection landing the job almost every time. According to a 2012 report by ABC News, 80% of jobs are landed through networking. Many other studies back that up.
In an article for the Huffington Post, America Works of New York, Inc. CEO Lee Bowes advocates strongly for networking, mentioning that merely asking most employers whom they prefer to hire will illuminate the power of networking.
“Networking, in its various forms, gives you the advantage in the job hunt,” Bowes wrote. “By using connections and networks, you differentiate your name from the thousands of other online applications. Employers are quick to rely on networks because they save time and they are more reliable than résumés.”
As a professional freelance writer, I mostly stopped dealing with online job postings years ago. They’re not always bad, but nothing beats networking. I go to networking events regularly and have no problem gaining leads. Even just expanding your social circle can prove to be helpful, when it’s time to post on Facebook asking if anyone knows someone who’s hiring.
Of course, you might come to find out you don’t know someone at the company you want to work at. In this case, Bowes recommends trying to get a temp job there through a staffing company or taking a lesser position and climbing the corporate ladder.
The case for grad school
If you expect to just show up at networking events and get several job offers, you might be mistaken. Without, say, an architecture degree, you knowing someone at an architecture firm will not mean much. On the other hand, an MBA in finance does you little good if you lock yourself in your room.
This is where networking and grad school meet.
In the 2009 comedic film Adventureland, Em (played by Jesse Eisenberg) gets asked why he’s going to grad school for journalism at Columbia University. He responds, “Journalism is kind of like this old boys’ network still. You need the right connections. It’s very Ivy League, very exclusive.”
Though journalism has clearly changed since the summer of 1987 (the time period that film is set), he still brings up a good point about many fields where connections can go a long way. And that’s a great thing about grad school. In addition to possibly making you a better job applicant, graduate programs may provide excellent networking opportunities for students.
Your professors are usually seasoned professionals in the field and well connected to current professionals. Your fellow students might end up working for or starting successful companies after grad school, deciding to bring you on staff.
But you shouldn’t wait until after grad school to network.
You should be building a network and a name for yourself before, during and after college. The only way to do that requires embodying the spirit of the film Yes Man and saying yes to everything. Well, saying yes to grad school events, at least.
Trust me, I’m a pretty introverted person. Sometimes I have to force myself to go to all the networking events — and you might, too. But it’s important to keep in dialogue with professors outside of the classroom. Hang out with classmates. Go to as many campus events as your schedule allows. Meet professionals in the local community. Complete summer internships. Meet people who work at your dream company. Shake some hands.
If you don’t put yourself out there, you’re just another semi-impressive resume.
Be a resume and a face.