Have you ever heard the saying “it’s all about who you know?” Having connections or “ins” in various areas can benefit you in the long run. Let’s talk about networking. Networking by definition is the “action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.” Networking. All of the jobs that I have obtained during my collegiate career involved some form of networking. This doesn’t mean that you are taking a “short cut” or having an advantage over others, it simply means you are using the resources around you in a beneficial way.

Over the course of my college years, I have finally realized how significant a role networking has played. I also recognize how important it is to continue to foster the relationships that are created through connections.  

This time last year, I was going through the competitive interview process for my final co-op at Drexel. I was determined to land a reputable job where I was able to learn and grow. This was my last chance to gain work experience before I graduated. Being that I was not thrilled with my previous two co-ops, this was my chance to shine. When I received 13 interviews back, I was both overwhelmed and excited. One of the interview requests was from Comcast, which was the most prestigious job I could land, at least in my eyes. Two family friends that I knew worked at Comcast in different departments. I called both and asked for advice for my interview. In addition, I asked them to talk to me about the Comcast corporation as a whole and the company’s culture. I was confident knowing that I had gone above and beyond for this specific interview.  

I went through the motions of going through the other interviews with my eyes set on Comcast. However, in my interview for the Human Resources Assistant at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, PCOM.  I quickly realized I was acquainted with the executive director of Human Resources. We were able to converse about how we lived in the same area and that I attended the same high school as her daughters. The interview went very well, and it dawned on me that this was another potential employer I could see myself working for.  

Fast forward to when the job offers came out. I was honored to have received a job offer from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. I was disappointed to have received a “qualified alternate” offer from Comcast, which meant I was in the queue to receive the job if their first choice declined the position. But who was going to turn down a position from Comcast? I looked at the pros and cons of the three job offers I had received. I decided that I could envision myself thriving at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.  

Making the leap to take that job ended up being a great choice. Towards the end of my internship, I was having a conversation with the executive director of HR and she stated that she liked hiring Upper Darby grads because she knew we had what it took to endure a six-month internship. Surprisingly enough, not everyone who walked through that office door from Drexel made it through the six  months. Our mutual connection of the high school I attended and the high school she sent her daughters to made the slightest difference when considering me for the job.  

To this day, I keep in touch with co-workers from PCOM, and one of them is the secondary on my senior project. I realized that everything happens for a reason, and that I was able to gain undeniably valuable connections. After graduation, when I start applying for jobs, I know there will be a wide array of connections for me to lean on. I still plan on applying to Comcast after graduation and continuing to talk to the individuals who extended their expertise to me earlier. In addition, I plan on continuing to foster my relationships with the PCOM team because it is likely they may have position openings in the near future. Needless to say, networking is crucial even if you don’t realize it at the moment.