Introduction

Our entire course surrounds the aspiration of students leaving it with job offers. It is specialised in a way that ensures networking is ultimately at the very core of it and the skills we learn revolve around it. Networking is quite possibly one of the things I struggled with most at the beginning of my university career because I lacked confidence in speaking to clients. Thanks to practise and perseverance, it is now one of my favourite aspects of my field.

Research

Networking allows for connections to be made in the industry. Professional employers often rely on their networking circles to find new employees (Rojas-Guyler et al. 2007) which is why there is such a big push for students to learn to network effectively. Specifically focusing on the benefits that networking can have for students, it is denotable that particularly networking events can act as a springboard for new workers regarding finding work after graduation at entry-level positions.  Furthermore, networking can help to “maintain trust” between members within a network (Melé 2009) which gives the opportunity to help students create a reliable name for themselves and increase their likelihood of being seen by other employers.

As well as this, networking can be equally beneficial for companies in terms of finding new people and making connections with other companies that may aid them in collaboration. This is exemplified by how Achrol (1997,p.68) concludes that the “true benefits of a network organisation are obtained only when one recognizes the unique managerial and economic benefits that emerge when the network is conceived of as a mini society.” This further exemplifies the benefits of networking and how students can be brought into companies in a way that is mutually beneficial to both parties.

My experience

My personal experiences with career networking have been somewhat stunted thus far. The main tool I have used is LinkedIn in which I asked established locals in my field if I could connect with them. I managed to do this successfully with a few people and now my network has grown the 43 connections. This has had its benefits in growing my network, though I still have a long way to go if I want to become known for my work. Furthermore, there was a networking event at my university in which successful alumni spoke about how they advanced in their careers which was very useful. The final, and perhaps most important, an experience I had with networking is through freelancing for work experience. Networking with my co-workers and clients on my different work experience jobs have allowed me to grow both my opportunities and my network within the industry; it has led to me beginning to build a reputation for myself, thus giving me more opportunities when it comes to the range of clients that I work for.

Conclusion

Networking is essential for the success of individuals, particularly within the media industry. It is one of my main methods for advancing in my career and it will continue to be the main method I use to build a reliable reputation for both my work and the way I connect with my clients.

Bibliography

ACHROL, R., 1997. Changes in the theory of interorganizational relations in marketing: Toward a network paradigm. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 25(1), 56-71

MELÉ, D., 2009. The Practice of Networking: An Ethical Approach. Journal of Business Ethics, 90, 487-503

ROJAS-GUYLER, L., J. MURNAN and R.R. COTTRELL, 2007. Networking for Career-Long Success: A Powerful Strategy for Health Education Professionals. Health promotion practice, 8(3), 229-233