Networking 101 with Professor Wilson
Picture this. You are a college student who is having trouble with expanding your professional network. You are aware that networking is an important aspect to forwarding your career, but you do not know where or how to start connecting with people. If that sounds like you currently, then I assure you that you are not alone. Because I know that many students enter college with the same problems, I scheduled an interview with Professor Janine Wilson, a well respected Economics professor, to get insight on how to successfully communicate professionally and how to take advantage of college resources.
About Professor Wilson
Professor Janine Lynn Flathman Wilson teaches Economics at UC Davis, and is also the Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the Economics Department. She designs the curriculum, assigns classes to faculty, and is an advisor to student-run economic clubs (Women in Economics, Davis Economics Collective). To her students, she is known for her enthusiasm for teaching, passion for economics and bubbly personality.
The importance of networking
Networking is not only a way to expand your connections, but it is also a tool to learn about your own career and aspirations. When you network with different people, you will obtain more information about what types of jobs are out there, and will have a better idea of what you want to pursue. You may even gain mentors who will help you throughout your career journey! Everyone that you meet will have their own story and advice to offer you, which is beneficial regardless of whether you stay in touch or not.
Grow your network by scheduling coffee chats
In our interview, Professor Wilson emphasizes the most effective way to network is by scheduling a quick informational interview with individuals who can give you relevant insight into their careers. LinkedIn is a great platform to connect with Alumni or anyone who is working in the positions/ companies that you are interested in. You can ask for 15 minutes of their time in person or via video chat, and chances are, they might agree to chat with you.
These are the key questions to ask during any informational interview, provided by Professor Wilson:
What do you like about your job?
What aspects of your job do you find challenging?
What does your day-to-day look like?
If you could go back in time to when you were in college, how would you prepare for your current career?
Is there anyone else you can connect me with for me to gain more insight on _(role / company)_?
Don’t put yourself down if you get rejected from a chat request, surely there will be other professionals who would love to help you out. If you don’t know where to start, DWIB has a seasonal Coffee Chat Program for members to connect with alumni who work in a variety of different fields!
Take advantage of the resources that your college offers
The most accessible resource to college students are their professors. Some may only reach out to their professors when they have questions regarding their schoolwork, but know that your professors are happy to chat with you! Get to know your professors to gain insight on your professional interests, and you may find yourself with a professor who would be more than happy to write your letter of rec (if you ever need one). Professor Wilson suggests attending office hours at least once a quarter with every professor.
Also, make sure you are consistently checking your emails, and go out of your way to search for campus events because you may be missing out on a lot of networking opportunities.
Some events hosted by UC Davis:
Career and Internship Fairs to meet recruiters and apply for internship/ job opportunities
Seminars to connect with professors and peers who have similar interests.
Student Involvement Fairs to join a student organization and meet peers who have similar backgrounds or career aspirations.
Final Words of Advice
As my interview with Professor Wilson concludes, I ask her to give final words of advice for college students who feel lost or unsure about their future career. She responds with:
Please don’t feel so stressed out about your first job out of college, or where your career is headed. It is a process by which you are supposed to fail and succeed over again, to get where you want to go. The job I’m in now, didn’t even exist when I was in college. All I did was do the best job I could, in every job I was in, and it opened doors in the direction I needed to go.
I hope you have gained some insightful tips on how to start networking in college, and have gained some confidence in putting yourself out there! I wish you the best of luck on your career journey.