What Does Networking Mean To You?

I got my first internship, and job, through networking.

At UVA, I was a civil engineer and a part of the Society of Women Engineers. One of the women I met through there – her boyfriend at the time (now husband) was working for Whiting-Turner, a construction management company.

I knew after she graduated they moved to New Jersey, and I reached out. I didn’t know her well, but I sent an email saying “I understand your husband works at Whiting-Turner”, “Can he introduce me/send you my resume”.

Sure enough, that got me my first internship. It went well, turned into my first job, and kickstarted my career in the construction/real estate industry in the New York/New Jersey area.

Networking and making friends are not very different. It’s building relationships outside of your circle. Some of my best friends in the industry I made through networking. 

And when you’ve built a relationship with them outside of work, it makes working with them on professional things way easier.