Iris Patton

I was pleasantly surprised to see examples of the practical ways in which different networking styles can be equally beneficial to developing relationships and reputations. Though I am much more extroverted now, when I first began my career, I was introverted and relationship focused. Career services professionals told me that I needed to change my style fundamentally, which struck me as odd because I was still managing to network and find opportunities. Now, I am much more extroverted and gravitate toward seeking out new experiences/circles in professional contexts than I did before. I think the most valuable lesson from this… >>>

I have learned that, in order to develop robust networks and capitalize on career opportunities, jobseekers must invest time in attending events in order to develop the connections needed to secure informational interviews with industry professionals, which is key in breaking into the "invisible" job market. This can include volunteering, attending career fairs, and looking for industry-related events in the area through event websites. I also learned that career services research distinguishes between inbound and outbound network connections, with inbound development focusing on expanding into new social circles and outbound fleshing out connections within social circles that jobseekers already occupy.

Broader networking goals, such as seeking to mentor and strengthen a community, organically provide opportunities to achieve immediate career goals. For instance, building trust/community across multiple departments in one's organization might lead to resources and support for future projects. This further reemphasizes the necessity of viewing networking as more than just a tool to reach a goal, but a symbiotic map of relationships between human beings.

Students might need help breaking down their broader goals into an actionable plan, so I enjoyed the module's suggestion of creating a mind map of people in your network and arranging them according to… >>>

For me, building social "capital" has always taken conscious effort. I enjoy connecting with others, but there is a substantial amount of planning and execution required to maintain strong ties, reawaken dormant ties, and maintain connection with weaker ties. While most of the material from this module consists of new language to describe familiar ideas, I do have to pause and reflect: networking is viewed in the career services world as a tool to be leveraged, when in actuality, it should be thought of as a set of values. If a person shows their network that they value them intrinsically… >>>