Headline

Feb. 10, 2005
By
Staff Writer

The saying, "It's not what you know, but who know that matters", is supported by the overwhelming number of studies that show eighty percent of all employment is gained because of who you know.  The term "networking" or a building a career network is a requirement to career success.

"My humble effort in the class, [with respect to networking is for each student] to at least know each other's name," professor of philosophy and business Joe McCaffrey said.

"That whole concept of the development of relationships is so very important.  I think a lot of people recognize this.  There are a lot of studies indicated that it is critical to career advancement --- How many people you know, what contacts you have made."

While the Career Development Center may be thought of as a place for resume and job interviewing assistance, the center encourages building relations that can lead to employment.

"I think networking is key," director of the Career Development Center Jennifer Timmons said.  "Some of the things, here in the career center, we're starting to do to help students become more comfortable with networking, because it is something that is out of a lot of our comfort zones. We have started working with alumni for career fairs.

"One of my biggest things that I had to [work on], [because] I was afraid to approach people, or not as comfortable approaching people I did not know at these types of events. So I recommend setting goals for yourself to meet one, two, three or five people, at that event, before going in."

Both McCaffrey and Timmons pointed out that it is important to development of system of keeping track of names.  Whether formal or informal, just have a list of people to send your resumes to, can be the difference between getting serious consideration or not.

The Internet has become an integral part of every part life and it has even found its way into job networking.  LinkedIn.com is a web site focused on the task of linking people together by industries and goals.  You can search for a very narrow subject field, and many people can choose to allow prospective employees to contact them directly.

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