THE MARKET
THE POWER OF NETWORKING
( And what you need to do about it .)
BY WIL DYER , MARSHALL ’ 10
INTERIM DIRECTOR , INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT , UC SAN DIEGO ALUMNI & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WE ’ VE ALL HEARD IT BEFORE : “ It ’ s not what you know , it ’ s who you know .” Yet very few job seekers take this to heart and continue to seek professional mobility through antiquated means like online job postings and staffing agencies . Now more than ever , your career path is dictated by maintaining and utilizing your professional network — and what better place to start than with your fellow Tritons ?
I ’ ve spoken with recruiters and hiring managers from today ’ s most sought-after companies like Google , Apple , Facebook and more , and while these companies all seek a variety of skills and qualifications in job candidates , they all look to one place first : their alumni network .
Surprising ? Don ’ t assume that a company posts a job and passively waits for the right candidate . From their perspective , hiring from a known network can be an easier , cheaper and more trustworthy source .
Consider your own career trajectory and the types of industries that appeal to you — chances are there ’ s a Triton out there who can help you break in . With a network of more than 170,000 alumni worldwide , it ’ s up to you to connect .
Here are three quick and easy steps to engage your Triton network and advance your career :
ATTEND AN ALUMNI EVENT
Triton Connect is an informal networking series designed to connect alumni to each other and the university in exciting locations across the country . Each event includes an inspirational keynote speaker or panel of successful alumni who share insights and advice from their professional journeys . You will leave with practical take-aways , real world tips and new alumni connections .
Learn more : alumni . ucsd . edu / events
CONNECT ONLINE
Surveys of UC San Diego alumni reveal that an overwhelming majority are interested in networking and hiring other Tritons . There ’ s no easier way to get in touch with your network than by connecting on sites like LinkedIn , which hosts nearly 130,000 alumni , or join UC San Diego ’ s own Alumni Advisor Network , which includes established professionals across all industries who volunteer to speak with students and alumni .
Visit : ucsd . evisors . com
GET PERSONALIZED CAREER ADVICE
Did you know that all alumni can access UC San Diego Career Center resources free of charge ? All Tritons can take advantage of nearly every benefit offered at the Career Center , including job fairs , networking nights , company information sessions , on-campus interviews and more .
Learn more : career . ucsd . edu
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