NETWORKING 101
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Networking is an opportunity for you to learn from professionals in fields you are interested in, connect with alumni and see how they have used their majors, and build a network that will help you make connections for future jobs and internships.
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You can reach out to anyone for networking, but we recommend alumni, current students, employees at firms of interest, or family friends and relatives.
Networking is a lifelong practice that many professionals use to develop personally and professionally. You should network to meet other professionals and clarify your own career goals.
To find alumni to network with, you can use the Find Alumni function of LinkedIn or the alumni database Our Northwestern. Once you have identified contacts, you can reach out to them and request an informational interview. For more details on professional introductions and questions to ask during informational interviews, see our Career Guide.
For more information, make an appointment with your Career Adviser or Career Counselor in CareerCat.
What do recruiters say about networking? Networking is a vital skill to being successful in the workplace - it not only helps you build and maintain relationships, but it also helps you to understand different aspects of the organization.
-Recruiter, Colgate-Palmolive
Networking is a crucial piece in the recruitment process at a top firm where the roles are so competitive. We receive such a high number of applicants that we really need more data points aside from the online application to narrow down our applicant pool. If a candidate takes the time to attend our events and meet our volunteers, it not only sets them apart as a proactive candidate, but it also helps us get to know them and potentially vouch for them as a strong candidate.
-Recruiter, top consulting firm
www.northwestern.edu/careers