Fostering Connections: How Networking Led Me to Skillsoft
Throughout my college career at Rutgers Business School (RBS), networking has been a pivotal tool that my professors have emphasized and pushed students to utilize. One primary initiative within this scope is the Women BUILD (Business Undergraduates in Leadership Development) Program, a leadership program at RBS that promotes gender equity in business and provides a certification in Women’s Leadership. It is open to all undergraduate women, and I have been a cohort member for about two years. A highlight from this program was serving as the Marketing Chair for the Women BUILD Annual Summit of 2024, an experience that helped me gain leadership skills and curate marketing materials catered to a specific audience. As a whole, Women BUILD has significantly enhanced my networking, providing a platform that introduced me to diverse professionals, companies, and career opportunities.
The program enabled me to cultivate several connections through roundtables with corporate sponsors, interactions with fellow peers, and participation in events. Notably, at an Alumni Networking Event, I met Tenille Grant, a former Marketing Intern and current Content Marketing Associate at Skillsoft. We had a brief conversation about Tenille’s role at Skillsoft, but the majority of our discussion focused on her college career. I asked her questions about her major, her application process, and what led her to Skillsoft. Tenille, being one of the few marketing majors at the event, was one of the Alumni that I resonated with. In this short amount of time, learning about Tenille’s journey as a recent Rutgers graduate and marketing professional inspired me. From this event, I not only gained a worthwhile connection but was also introduced to Skillsoft, paving the way for my current endeavors.
Following our conversation, I delved deeper into Skillsoft and became interested in its mission to democratize learning as well as its collaborative values. A few months later, I discovered through the Women BUILD monthly bulletin that Skillsoft’s marketing internships had opened. Motivated by another close connection I formed from networking on LinkedIn, I applied for the position, and here I am today! While on this path, I have learned the various benefits of networking, providing lessons that I will take forward as I progress in my professional journey.
Here are a few of the noteworthy advantages I have discovered:
1. Career Advancement
Networking can lead to numerous pathways that propel your career forward, whether it be an internship or even a full-time position. It is a powerful resource that can unlock doors to industries and companies of interest and professionals who can inform you about open positions suited to your skills. While attending career fairs and other networking events at college, I realized the amount of exposure I was getting to new roles. Each table or booth at these events featured professionals mentioning internship programs or co-ops that were currently open at their companies. I was able to physically hand in my resume and get direct contacts from firms.
Alongside the face-to-face aspect of networking, being active virtually, especially on LinkedIn, is essential for broadening your prospects. LinkedIn is a beneficial asset that can be leveraged to apply for jobs and connect with individuals who work at companies you have applied to. By gaining keen insights into certain job roles or company cultures from professionals on LinkedIn, you acquire another resource to advance your career. Networking was the key that helped me secure an internship at Skillsoft this summer. Although it was mentioned in the Women BUILD program bulletin, what ultimately drove me to pursue this opportunity was familiarizing myself with people within Skillsoft, such as Tenille, and receiving encouragement from other connections.
2. Knowledge Dissemination
Through networking, I have gained access to extensive information and knowledge. The experiences and advice I have gathered have been invaluable for my professional development, offering tips on acing interviews, resume building, and job applications. In particular, a piece of advice that has always stuck with me was from a LinkedIn connection. It was a brief fifteen-minute chat, however, she gave me the best guidance: never give up on my job search and understand that rejection is redirection. At that time in my life, I felt defeated having gone through multiple job applications and interviews. After trying to get the perfect role for a long time, it became difficult to continue the job search. Yet, the advice I received changed my mindset and perspective on the entire process. She mentioned that no one’s career path is linear; there are always going to be highs and lows. If you keep working hard, networking, and putting your best foot forward, you will eventually find the right role for you. Rejection is simply part of the process, and it will redirect you to where you are meant to be.
Additionally, one of the best aspects of networking is that it is mutually beneficial, allowing me to share my knowledge with others as well. In my second year of the Women BUILD program, I had the chance to be a mentor to a first-year student. The first time I met my mentee was at a networking event specifically for mentoring relationships, where students were seeking direction on how to have successful interviews. One strategy I discussed was to always look through your resume and pick out certain projects or experiences that could serve as optimal “talking points.” This way, if the interviewer asks a behavioral question such as “Tell me about a time…,” you have an effective response prepared. It felt rewarding to share this suggestion and be on the other side of a connection. This fresh point of view reinforced how we can give –and take the knowledge we have acquired.
3. Support Circle
My network has become a reliable support circle that I can always turn to for help. They provide encouragement, help me face challenges, and most importantly, celebrate my successes. My support circle is quite diverse, which is useful because it offers a wide variety of assistance in critical areas of my life. My college connections provide academic advisement, help me excel in school, and tell me about opportunities that may fit my expertise — and vice versa! The ones I have made at RBS span different majors, grade levels, and job experiences, surrounding me with valuable information about all areas of business, not just my major. Similarly, my professional connections, made through LinkedIn or networking events, also reach out about new roles and offer counsel on becoming an excellent job candidate.
Equally important is the maintenance of these relationships. Keeping in touch with my circle is pivotal, and it’s refreshing to discuss updates on our careers and personal lives. If they are a college connection, I usually meet them for coffee or lunch on campus to catch up. If it is a virtual connection, I prefer to write emails or set up Zoom meetings. Either way, staying in contact with my connections provides great mutual support and a quick reference point.
Taking these benefits into account, it is clear that networking is a foundation of success. As my career path progresses, I will continue to solidify my relationships and advise all young professionals to pursue their goals by utilizing the efficient resource of networking.
