Our professors are right..Networking is the key!

For two years or more teachers have been saying that networking is the key to finding internships and jobs. At first I was a bit worried, although I don't have a shy personality the idea of networking was a bit confusing and I wasn't sure if I would be any good at it. I knew that at home my family knew a lot of people and that helped during hs to get school projects done but how was that going to help me get a job in Washington DC?

Now just two weeks away from my second year in college, looking forward to a summer of classes and just one more year here at QU, the concept of networking has fallen into place. It really isn't that difficult at all. All there is to it is meeting as many people as you can and getting their contact information and staying in touch because you never know when that person might be able to lead you to yet another opportunity to meet someone else.

Here's an example that I am really excited about. When I started my internship with the CT General Assembly I met Chris Zavagnin, an assistant clerk for the environment committee who, just through conversation I learned, happens to be friends with Mindy Crane (now Mindy Glabe) who was the State FFA President a few years back, an organization that I was a part of as well. A couple weeks ago I asked Chris if he could get me in touch with Mindy because I remembered that she worked for the Department of Ag for a while.

So now I have been emailing with Mindy for a couple weeks and she has put me in contact with someone who currently works for the department of Ag, Ralph Otto that I am going to try and schedule and appointment with to meet during my week in DC next month. Mindy also gave me a name of a friend who is a legislative aid for a congressman that I am going to try and meet while I am in DC.

So my point is that networking is a great thing and you never know what opportunities will pop up just by introducing yourself and getting a business card. (click link to make free business cards of your own--just pay shipping)