By Karalyn Hoover & Taylor Morelli
Everyone emphasizes the importance of networking, you may be asking yourself why do you need to network and does it really work?
Networking is about establishing and nurturing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with the people you meet. Whether you're waiting in line to order your morning coffee, participating in an intramural sports league, or attending a work conference… NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!
Networking can happen anywhere and at anytime. Keeping business cards on you at all times is a great practice as you start to enter the professional world. Creating a network online through social media sites like Linked-In or Facebook is also important.
Within the field of communications and public relations, it is all about who you know. Often the most influential and successful people are connected. When you investing time in your relationships — professional and personal — it can pay you back over time throughout the course of your career. Every connection should be thought of as a lifeline to your next opportunity.
Networking has the potential to...
- develop and improve your skillset
- stay on top of the latest trends in your industry
- keep a pulse on the job market
- meet prospective mentors, partners, and clients
- gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your career development
Connecting with someone is not just about getting their contact information, but more about building a long-term relationship.
You may be thinking, I have never networked before so I do not know why I would start now! Wrong, you network every day without even realizing it... every interaction with a professor, classmate or co-worker is networking. This existing network is at your fingertips but it is up to you to expand and retain these relationships online. Consider using sites like Linked In to expand your network or maintaining relationships through activities outside of a classroom/workplace environment.
Karalyn Hoover is a senior communication major, with a concentration in PR/ Journalism and a minor in marketing, at Monmouth University. She is co-president of MU PRSSA Shadow PR firm. Karalyn interned with Coyne PR this past summer and will be returning after graduation as an account coordinator
Taylor Morelli is a graduate student in the Monmouth University Corporate and Public Relations program. She is the Vice-President of Monmouth PRSSA Shadow PR Firm. She is currently a communications intern at a boutique public relations agency.