DUCK ALUMNI CAREER BLOG

May 5, 2015

Throughout my four years as an undergraduate in the Lundquist College of Business at the University of Oregon, I was constantly reminded of the importance of networking and utilizing LinkedIn. So, I made a few contacts and updated my LinkedIn. Boom, I was networking. At least I thought I was. 

The Relationship: Built upon commitment, time and effort

Three years later, after making many more contacts and spending countless hours in conversation with numerous great people I finally realized that networking at its core is nothing more than being genuine and establishing long-lasting relationships. Just like any relationship in life, they take time, effort, and a lot of give and take. Making connections and building lasting relationships is not just about finding people who can help you, but using the knowledge and connections that you have to help others as well. 

Though this may be a little more difficult when you’re just starting out, it’s not impossible. Everyone has some knowledge and advice gained through their own experiences that they can pass along. You just have to stay committed and be willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to do it. 

Not a Box to Check

The mistake that I made, and I’m sure many others have while attending school, is treating networking like many other school projects: assignments that you complete and check off the list. Networking is an art that has to be perfected and that is defined by more than just one email or phone call. There are many individuals who have unselfishly given me their time and great advice; if given the chance, I would jump at the opportunity to repay their generosity and belief in me. I would also like to take this time to give a big THANK YOU to all of the people who have gone out of their way to help me in my journey. There is no doubt that I will remember each of these individuals and their contributions to my success for years to come. 

Grow the Network Around You

The benefit of starting to network early is that you begin to build a network long before you will ever even need it. My advice to students is to begin networking while attending the University of Oregon. It’s the perfect time to start: you’re surrounded by a large community of students, faculty, and alumni that is more than willing to lend a helping hand, because everyone understands what you’re going through from personal experience. So, start building relationships now! There is a world of experienced professionals out there right at your fingertips. You just have to commit to putting in the time and effort. 

John Schaufler, BA ’11