Networking

Networking is about building contacts and developing relationships with people in order to achieve a certain goal, such as hearing about job vacancies or gathering information about a specific type of industry. Entry into most sectors requires a bit of networking and as you can see from this video, it’s a skill anyone can learn. In a recent survey, 30% of Royal Holloway students said they secured their first job through people they know. 

What is a network?

A network is a group of people who have a shared interest. Your various networks may be larger than you think, and might include:

• Members of your family
• Friends and their families
• Previous employers
• Academic and college staff
• Former school teachers
• Visiting lecturers
• Alumni
• Acquaintances from social activities
• Contacts from volunteering or co-curricular activities

It can be useful to "mind-map" your network and list the people in it.  Then think about the jobs they do and the people they may know. Networking usually involves a chain of people saying "I don't know about that but I know somebody who does...."

Expanding your network

Your network might seem limited but there are always ways of expanding it. The more activities you are involved in the more contacts you can make. For example:

• Attend careers events and meet company employees
• Join professional bodies or junior organisations (e.g Future Lawyers)  
• Join vocational student societies (e.g Royal Holloway Entrepreneurs) 
• Attend career courses in London.
• Join specialist groups on Linked In and Facebook  (e.g Careers in the Media)
• Undertake an internship or work experience

Putting it into action

When you’re talking to new contacts, keep your expectations moderate and remember that this person may only be able to help so far. However, don’t forget to ask who else they know and follow up on those contacts.   Think of networking as a five step process in which the better you get to know someone the more help they are likely to give you. 

The five steps involve you getting:

• Answers - Information gathering. For example, what is the job like? What do you do every day? Do you meet many clients?
• Advice - For example, "What skills do you think I need to do this job?", "Which route in would you say is the best?"; "Which qualification is more suited to this role?"
• Assistance - The contact is proactive in helping you - e.g. forwarding vacancies to you.
• Advocacy - The contact will actually recommend you to the right people.
• Alliance - Mentoring and support in the workplace

Practice!

You can start practising your network skills immediately. The Careers Service has hundreds of alumni and employers attending student events throughout the year so there is plenty of opportunity to make new contacts.