As many as 70% of all job offers are a direct result of networking. The hidden job market refers to jobs that are never advertised and if you only rely on applying for advertised positions then you are eliminating your chance to be considered for most openings.
Professional networking can be defined as connecting with people who can help you advance your career. You’ve probably heard the term “Six Degrees of Separation” that refers to the idea that through our connections with other people, we are all an average of six connections away from every person in the world. With that idea in mind, it is amazing where your career can go when you take time to get to know people and develop long-term relationships that can benefit you during your job search and as you develop through your professional life.
Imagine applying for your dream job. Would it be more effective to simply mail your cover letter and résumé to the address listed in an advertisement? Or through networking, meet someone in the organization who can hand deliver your documents to the hiring manager? That is the power of networking!
Additional Networking Tips
How to Network
How do I start networking?
How do I turn a contact into an ally?
Build Your Network While Attending UNK
There are many informal ways to enhance your network while you’re a student at UNK. Perhaps the most important thing you can do is get to know your professors and academic advisors. Also, through active involvement on campus and participating in community service you can meet more people from campus and the Kearney community.
Here is a list of several more formal networking activities that you can participate in as a college student. Advisors in Academic and Career Services are available to provide more information about any of these activities.
Online networking is another important aspect of your job search. There are many sites that provide networking opportunities; one that focuses on professional networking is LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a professional networking site with over 70 million members around the world. It’s goal is to help you make better use of your professional network by showing you who your connections are connected to and allowing you to search for specific organizations or industries to find out if you’re connected to anyone there. Contact Academic and Career Services for more information.