by Jim Giudice (L’17)
This time last year the Fall Alumni Gathering was quickly approaching. I knew we were expected to network with attorneys we had never met. Like many of you, I did not come from a family of well-connected lawyers, but it seemed there were students who knew partners at every firm in town. “How could I compete with that?” I wondered. So I sat down with my career advisor, and we came up with a plan. It all boiled down to being deliberate and being bold.
Let’s face it, the hands we shake really matter. Networking is critical to job hunt success, and if you want to meet influential people who may shape your future, you must be bold! There is no way around it, when networking at a social event you have to actually introduce yourself. It will be awkward, painful at times, but resist the urge to huddle in a corner with other classmates and go shake some hands. How should you go about introducing yourself to someone you have never met? Whether it is at a networking event, via email, or over the phone, it is all about tone.
Accomplished professionals, in any field, are usually eager to share their insight and wisdom with the next generation. Those seasoned practitioners who have “made it” want to give their time and advice to motivated students, but it is all about how you approach the conversation that matters. Seek mentorship; from the beginning make it clear that you are looking for perspective, advice, and guidance, not a shortcut through the hiring process. In a social setting you have to step up to the plate and take a swing, but what about an email or a phone call? This is where you should be deliberate.
Take the time to find something that gives you a meaningful connection to the person on the other side beyond “we both went to the same law school.” Do you have a passion for a specific practice area? Did you go to the same undergraduate school? Did you work between undergrad and law school in similar fields? There is always something that will give you a deeper connection from the start. You may not know as a 1L, but think about where you might want to be in two years; let that interest guide you and don’t be afraid to reach out.
Finally, while it may start slow at first, networking is like a snowball, and you need to have a plan to stay organized. Establish a system now that will allow you to catalogue everyone in your network. An excel spreadsheet is a great way to track whom you have met, how you met them, and when you are going to contact them again. I stay in touch with almost all of the attorneys I met during 1L year, many of whom were critical to finding summer employment. So don’t be nervous, be bold and introduce yourself because you never know where that new contact will lead.