[Part 1: Networking for Students] Why do you need to network?

And why finding jobs is like dating

Networking used to be a strange concept for me back when I was in college. So you are telling me that in addition to finishing courseworks and getting good grades, I need to talk with strangers about their jobs, and ask if they can refer me to their companies? But they don’t even know me! In the beginning, networking feels transactional and superficial for me, but it does not have to be that way.

The truth is, networking has opened many doors to jobs and relationships for me, but it was not easy and I learned things the hard way. I decided to write this series with the hope to help students change their approaches about networking and make the process more enjoyable. It will be a series packed with actionable tips, advices, and insights, all from 50+ networking calls (I counted my Linkedin messages) I made and people requested from me, and hope it will be helpful to you all!

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Let’s imagine: you meet this nice-looking guy, who seems to be friendly, can support you emotionally and financially. What a great match! But how are you so sure? The only way you can find out, is to talk to his family, friends, and even better, his ex. And even after you find out that he is what you looking for, how do you make him notices? You ask his friends or his family to make an introduction.

Same thing with finding a job. The only way you can determine if it fits for you is through networking, and it gives you 2 things (both of them are not taught in school):

1. Exposure

What ones does in a job goes well beyond the job description. When I was applying for jobs, I know that Product Managers (PM), well, manage a product, but what does it REALLY MEANS? Not until when I talk with people who have been a PM for several years then I understand what it entails on a day-to-day basis, or what kinds of tasks they are expected to perform. And these details are important, because they help me determine if my personalities, goals, and aspirations align with those of a PM. Networking gives you the exposure to see the jobs, the company, and the culture from an intimate point of view, that you cannot see from a company website or job descriptions. Would your dream guy shower often? His Instagram picture would not show that. You have to talk with his friends.

3 questions I like to use to get exposure:

1. What is your day-to-day look like?

2. What you find surprising about your role / company?

3. If you can change one thing about the company’s culture, what would you change?

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to ask what they like and don’t like about a company, or if this “rumor on the Internet” is true or not. As long as the person is not very high up in the company, I can guarantee they are happy to give you an honest thought. Furthermore, it shows that you care, and do research.

Via UmigameWI333

2. Advice

I determine that I want to be a PM. Great, I have no idea where to start. I have learned that the best thing one can do when they feel clueless about the next steps, is to talk with someone (but who? That will be answered in part 2). Since they already went through the process, and got the offer, they can tell you what the company is looking for, what you should focus on, and how you should tell your stories. I was working so hard on practicing interview questions, until a junior PM advised me to focus more on building my portfolio, as her company focuses more on that aspect. Imagine how much time I would have wasted! What’s the point of cooking a spicy chicken dish for a guy, only to realize his spice tolerance is zero?

3 questions I like to use to get advice:

1. How was your interview process? How did you prepare?

2. Why do you think they hire you? Did you do very well on a technical exams, or you think you communicated your thoughts clearly?

3. What other people do you recommend that I talk with? (this question is great, because it just gives you another person to talk with)

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to ask for referral. Referral is great because it puts you in front of other candidates. Imagine if you are meeting 2 guys, and your friend says “I vouch for guy A so much more because this and that.” Who would you give a chance to first? Good way to ask is “I really like this job, and I think it fits my strengths and future plans well. Can I ask for your referral for the role?” 99% of the time, they will say yes.

Getting a job is a 2-way street: you must like the role, and the employer must think you are a great fit. Networking is perfect for one to do both. So who will you need to talk to, and what will you do in a networking call? I will unpack these questions in part 2 and 3, so stay tuned.

Have fun looking for your career boyfriend / girlfriend ;) Let me know in the comments your thoughts!