Networking is an important skill for making contacts, but you still have to prove yourself once making those contacts, according to Rob Hoerter, account manager and associate at Sossaman and Associates.
"Who you know will get you in the door - what you know will get you the job," he said.
Hoerter spoke Wednesday at Brister Hall for The University of Memphis Career and Employment Services' Lunch and Learn Series.
Hoerter, who received his undergraduate and master's degree in marketing at The U of M, has always made the most of who he knows. When he was working at Blockbuster during high school and college, he met Kent Sossaman of Sossaman and Associates, who was at that time handling the advertising for Blockbuster.
That connection helped him get the job he has today. Hoerter even credits the benefits of networking in his personal life, since he met his wife while she was dating a friend of his.
A big part of networking for college students can be gained through internship experience, according to Hoerter.
"Internships are absolutely invaluable and it's not too late to do it," he said.
He also said that those college students graduating with a degree and no experience in their field could be setting themselves up for a big wake-up call when they enter the job market.
"There's a big difference between what you learn in class and what you do in the workplace," he said.
According to Hoerter, an internship cannot only show you what you want to do professionally, but it can also show you what you don't want to do. He said even after getting an internship, you have to stay active to really make an impression.
"If they give you an office and a desk, don't sit at it," he said. "Make yourself a resource."
Although networking can be an intimidating concept to some, according to Hoerter it is something that you do every day and is really "no more than meeting people."
He did give a few tips on making lasting connections with the people that you meet. One of those tips is to simply be yourself.
"Make people love you for who you are," Hoerter said. "If you're genuine, people will recognize that."
He also said that networking isn't something you quit doing when you get your diploma.
"Once you've got a job, don't ever stop networking," he added.
Reshma Gangavaram, a graduate management information systems student, changed her mind about internships after attending the session.
"I thought this was very useful," she said. "I used to have second thoughts about doing an internship, but now I'm absolutely sure I need one before entering the real world."
Clay Woemmel, assistant director of Career and Employment Services at The U of M, hopes to help students learn skills from professionals to help them get the jobs they want.
"Our objective is to expose students to different career-related experiences," Woemmel said.
He also said he hopes that the networking skills emphasized by Hoerter will teach students an invaluable lesson for getting that first job out of college.
"Many students get their jobs through networking, but very few know how to do it," Woemmel said.
