I think networks are about relations and connecting people to each other. One of the main purposes of networking is to find an “in” for yourself and move forward in some way. There is a sense of reciprocity and mutual interest in networks; both people connecting find benefits of networking with each other. One example of a social network is an alumni network at a college or university. These networks are lifelong communities that connect current students with alumni and help them with job opportunities, business deals, funding prospects, and more. If a student interested in marketing goes to an alumni presentation and has a great conversation with an alum who recently created a marketing startup, not only is the student finding a job opportunity in the field they’re interested in, but the alum is benefitting, too, by finding a prospective employee from a school that they know and trust. In general, I think making connections with people is an important life skill, especially when searching for employment or in the business world. People are connecting with each other everyday through networks, whether that’s going to a job fair, following someone on Instagram, or meeting new people at a club meeting.
3 thoughts on “Network – Chloe Fandetti”
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The networking that goes on through a universities community as well as alumni community is a very important part of future networking. Some of the best universities in our country have gained their status due to their ability to foster strong network connections for their students. The internet has helped enhanced our ability to connect with graduates and members of the student body to help everyone succeed as best they can. The social platform LinkdIn is one of the biggest career networking systems and even has the ability to connect prospective employees find positions in the work force. In the recent years, networking has been completely upgraded through this ability to connect with others virtually over shared interests. I agree that networking is extremely important when beginning one’s career, and the internet has helped us tremendously with this.
Like you mentioned, networking is extremely important in finding opportunities in professional fields. Alumni networks and online platforms are certainly good ways to network and meet potential employers. However, with social media as big as it is, the expectation to network has also become much greater. Because of how accessible the internet has become, people new to the professional world are expected to network more and more to remain competitive in the job market. That is why understanding LinkdIn and other networking forums is so important today. People feel more stressed to accumulate accolades that they can advertise online. These expectations have led to serious mental health issues for young people.
I agree that a network is a good tool for us to build relations with others and get some resources for our future development. Many applications and websites provide huge convenience for our life. The network is like a huge repository of resources. The key is how you use these resources. You need to have the dialectical ability to find the resources you need and avoid being confused by other ads and scams. There is a famous application in China called Zhihu, which provides a platform for people all around the world to discuss together. You can post your question on it and answer others’ questions anonymously. This gives us a chance to learn from others’ experiences and advice. The network brings all our information together, and we need to know how to use it as a tool to gather the information we want.