The Importance of Networking

Written by Tyler Strauss 
Co-op MBA Accounting, 2019

There is no substitute for knowing people. We hear this all the time, “it’s all about who you know”.  Though when faced with the opportunity to network, we often turn it down. This is the largest mistake anyone with career aspirations can make, and here’s why: 

This summer, I will be fortunate enough to be interning at Deloitte, a big four accounting firm. While I believe that I am qualified and will do a good job, I believe that most of my success in obtaining this internship comes down to having built a strong network.

One of my personal interests outside of academics is soccer. In fact, I coach a few youth teams several times a week. It is here where I found the connection that would lead to my internship at Deloitte. Throughout my coaching experience, I had the pleasure of speaking with several parents and coaches, a few of whom asked about my career aspirations.

I was lucky enough to meet several influential people networking that happened to be well-connected in the accounting world and had gained an interest in my aspirations. They were imperative to my success during my pursuit of an internship. These connections helped guide me in the right direction, review my resume, help to submit it through the right channels and even coach me through several rounds of interviews.

This summer, I will be very fortunate to intern at a such a prestigious company. I would not have this opportunity if weren’t for the connections that I made while networking. There are so many situations where networking can occur and I was lucky enough to find the right connections while doing what I love. 

Consider this the next time you're offered the opportunity to network!


If you missed our webinar for Mastering the Informational Interview, (featuring Lauren Moy!) you can watch it here: https://hofstra.blackboard.com/webapps/bb-collaborate-bb_bb60/recording/launchGuest?uid=b2ca74cd-2f10-4f4f-a8ee-3f6fc2a045d0&course_id=_247490_1

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