Networking (transcription)
How can you grow your network and why is networking important?
It's important to remember that networking is not just about finding a job - that might be one of the outcomes - but the focus should be on building a community of peers and supporters around you; people you can learn from, share your own experiences with, and to support and encourage each other.
Instead of thinking of people as connections, think of them as your community.
The uni environment is an ideal place to do that, because you're constantly engaging with post-grad students who come from all walks of life, every industry profession and background. By just reaching out and starting a conversation, you're learning from others and growing your network.
More formal ways of networking could be joining the student clubs and societies on campus, and attending the various events that come up. For example, the Postgraduate Business Society, or Network Café for Research Students, there's also the Women in Business Network, the PhD Student Society, and numerous international student clubs.
Often these groups will hold events with employers and keynote speakers, which will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about your profession and also meet new people in your field. If you go to the ActivateUTS website, you'll find a full list of the student clubs that you can join.
When it comes to meeting potential employers through networking events, it's worth noting that studies show that 80% of jobs are filled through internal promotions, contacts from existing staff, and word of mouth - so basically, networking.
So while it may seem like trawling online job ads for vacancies is your best option for finding a job, your time is actually better spent face-to-face, where you're building deeper relationships with people, that might just open up new opportunties for you.