{"id":13318,"date":"2025-12-02T15:51:39","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T20:51:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/?p=13318"},"modified":"2025-12-02T15:51:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T20:51:39","slug":"networking-for-jobs-and-internships-why-patience-and-persistence-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/networking-for-jobs-and-internships-why-patience-and-persistence-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Networking for Jobs and Internships: Why Patience and Persistence Matter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Networking can feel frustrating at times, especially when responses are slow or opportunities seem out of reach. But here\u2019s the truth: you can\u2019t control timing. You can\u2019t control who replies or when, and you certainly can\u2019t control which positions will be open at any given moment. What you&nbsp;<em>can<\/em>&nbsp;control is your effort, attitude and persistence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re looking for an internship or your first job, remember this:&nbsp;<strong>networking is a process, not a one-time task.<\/strong>&nbsp;It takes time, and often, patience is just as important as preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news? Networking works. The more you invest in building relationships and expanding your contact base, the more results you\u2019ll see over time. Commit to the process, and you\u2019ll eventually reap the benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How to Stay on Your Contact\u2019s Radar<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t always need a big reason to reach out. Sometimes a simple update is enough to keep you visible. Even if you don\u2019t get a response, that\u2019s okay! The goal is to stay on their radar. Here are a few examples of outreach that help maintain connections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Share an update on a course or project you\u2019re working on<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Send a thank-you note after a conversation or event<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share an interesting article (bonus points if you ask a question about it!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Congratulate them on a recent achievement or award<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Provide an update on a referral they made<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When You Want a Response: Ask for Something Specific<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re hoping for a back-and-forth conversation, make sure your outreach includes a clear ask. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Ask a question about their company or role<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Request feedback on your r\u00e9sum\u00e9, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seek advice on an opportunity you\u2019re considering<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ask for recommendations of other professionals to connect with<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Suggest a quick phone call, Zoom, or coffee chat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Real-Life Example: Persistence Pays Off<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One alum shared that she initially felt discouraged by networking because she felt it wasn\u2019t working. But after a few calls and consistent follow-ups, she connected with someone outside her field who introduced her to a contact in her dream industry. That connection eventually led to a job offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her takeaway?&nbsp;<strong>Don\u2019t give up. Networking takes time, but it works.<\/strong>&nbsp;Stay connected, be clear about what you\u2019re looking for, and always ask if there\u2019s someone else they recommend you speak with. You never know where one conversation might lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bottom Line<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Networking isn\u2019t just for graduating seniors! It\u2019s for anyone looking to grow their career. Jobs, internships, mentorships, and opportunities often come through connections. While you can\u2019t control timing, you&nbsp;<em>can<\/em>&nbsp;control your effort, follow-up and patience. Those three things will make all the difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Networking can feel frustrating at times, especially when responses are slow or opportunities seem out of reach. But here\u2019s the truth: you can\u2019t control timing. You can\u2019t control who replies or when, and you certainly can\u2019t control which positions will be open at any given moment. What you&nbsp;can&nbsp;control is your effort, attitude and persistence. Whether [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[30],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13318"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13318"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13318\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13319,"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13318\/revisions\/13319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13318"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/resources.newhouse.syr.edu\/cdc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}