written by Gia Peterson
graphics by Angela Young
Internship season is around the corner, which means Cal Poly students’ search for new opportunities is now in full swing. With the future laid out ahead, Cal Poly students face the nerves and excitement of starting their new working lives. Many students dream about the possibilities awaiting them after college, but many also dread the transition from campus life to the professional world. Throughout the transition from student to professional, networking can be an effective way for Cal Poly students to seek new opportunities and receive guidance in their careers.
Honing one's networking skills can open the door to career opportunities as well as gaining valuable knowledge and insights. Learning from others can help industry hopefuls learn about themselves, facilitate personal growth, and establish a support network. The three main goals of Cal Poly's Women in Business Association are to Build, Support, and Empower. WIB acts as a bridge to form connections with powerful women in industry to build connections that have strong foundations, backed by the commitment that women want to see other women succeed. The community behind WIB continues to grow, providing women with the skills to network like a boss.
The truth is, 85% of jobs are filled through networking and 70% of jobs are never published publicly. Given those statistics, it’s clear that the answer to achieving your goals, in most cases, involves talking to people and forming genuine connections. Fostering connections with people who have varied career goals can lead you on a path of exploration both in your personal and professional life. It’s important to put yourself out there. If you don’t know where to start, WIB holds a plethora of events that push women to form connections with each other. For example, WIB hosts weekly meetings that can immerse you in the world of business from Women in Tech panels with Google to networking events with the Big 4 accounting firms. They even host events to facilitate personal growth, like Defining Her Future. DHF is a women's leadership conference that allows students the chance to connect, learn, and grow as leaders, while also providing the opportunity to meet with corporate sponsors. Whether you’re looking to build your future or learn more about others around you, WIB has opportunities to do so.
Connections are crucial when entering the business world. Creating your own web of influential mentors can help you stay on the path to success and propel you into your new career. People want to see other people succeed, which is why utilizing your network to facilitate relationships is important. In order to establish these relationships it’s helpful to set clear goals, be authentic and maintain relationships. By doing these, you can establish purposeful bonds that put you in a better position for job opportunities, open you up to new knowledge, and give you access to new relationships.
When setting goals, you should create clear and specific objectives for your networking endeavors. Having clear and specific goals can help you stay on task and remain focused. They make sure you spend your time wisely by guiding you in pursuing opportunities and connections that are specific to your goals for the future. For example, if you’re interested in entrepreneurship, it might be helpful to talk to a business owner, while if you’re interested in accounting it might be helpful to talk to someone with a career in tax or audit. It’s important to note that both connections are meaningful, but tailoring your network to fit your goals can improve your chances of ending up in your desired career path.
After forming connections, it is important to take steps to maintain the relationships you’ve created. Maintaining relationships shows you care about the people around you. It’s a crucial aspect of networking because it illustrates that you deeply appreciate relationships and want to help others as much as you want others to help you. One way to stay connected after an event is to shoot a thank you message through LinkedIn or email to show your appreciation.
Showing gratitude is just one way to stay genuine and authentic throughout the networking process. Staying true to yourself is vital to forming genuine connections with others. Through being genuine and authentic, you can form lasting relationships. In doing so, you will attract individuals who appreciate and value who you are. Authenticity holds power because it commands respect from others and influences others to embrace their true selves as well.
The transition from college to the working world can be both exciting and challenging, but with the right tools, it can be an incredibly rewarding process. Networking is a powerful tool during this transition and can open doors for you to learn about others and even yourself. WIB is an excellent resource for women wanting to make new connections. Through proactive networking, well-defined objectives, genuine engagement, and the cultivation of connections, students can create the conditions for a smooth and satisfying shift into the workforce.With internship season underway, it’s important to remember the impact of networking and that any women in business can unleash the power of networking like a boss.