Franklin & Marshall College

Everyone talks about networking, but what is that really? What does it mean and how do you do it?

Networking is not...asking for a job, something that you do once and forget about, difficult to master.

Networking is...connecting with people, building relationships, sharing valuable resources, strategic, a commitment, the single most powerful tool for both job seeking and career exploration. 

Do you have a network?  Yes!  Actually, we all have networks.  The question is whether or not we strategically use and grow them.   Networking is simply relationship building; it is something that we do everyday.  But, to network strategically, you will need to become purposeful and organized about nurturing your current connections and growing new connections. 

Why should you network?  

• To learn information that helps you decide which career path is best for you.
• To get advice that allows you to improve the way you present yourself.
• To find opportunities that you would have no other way of discovering.

Rebecca Rehr '09 describes networking techniques learned through Franklin & Marshall's Career Services.

After graduating from Franklin & Marshall, Rebecca was appointed to a position by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. She will serve a 3-year term as a member of the Maryland Commission for Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities. Read about it here.