Illinois Tech Career Services · Networking
Networking & Making Connections
Build relationships that create real, mutual value — and open doors that job boards never will.
Networking isn’t about collecting business cards. It’s about building genuine relationships that create value on both sides — the kind that lead to mentorship, referrals, and opportunities long before they’re ever posted. Many roles are filled through people who already know, trust, and think of you. The work of networking is simply making sure the right people know what you’re working toward.
80%
Of Professionals Call Networking Important to Career Success
70%
Were Hired at a Company Where They Already Had a Connection
4x
More Likely to Be Hired When Referred by a Connection
Source: LinkedIn global survey and hiring data
The Mindset
“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.”
Reframe the whole exercise. Instead of “What can they do for me?” ask “How can I help?” Instead of “I’m bothering them,” remember that most people genuinely enjoy helping. You’re not collecting contacts — you’re building relationships, and your whole community is your network.
Build your network — select a row to open it
1Four Places to Grow Your Network
On campus, online, at events — and everywhere work is not the point▾
On Campus
Attend career fairs, workshops, and speaker series; join a professional club in your field; build relationships with professors during office hours; and take on research assistantships, campus jobs, and competitions like hackathons and case challenges.
Online
Optimize your LinkedIn profile with a clear photo and detailed experience; join LinkedIn groups and industry communities; engage by commenting and sharing insights; personalize every connection request; and follow up consistently without being pushy.
At Events
Lead with curiosity — ask about people’s interests, not just their job titles. Focus on giving: share resources and offer help. Listen more than you talk, jot down details afterward, and follow up within 24 hours with a personalized note.
Beyond Work
Some of the best connections form outside professional settings. Join fitness or running clubs and intramural sports, volunteer with community organizations, take special-interest classes, and accept invitations that put you in front of people in different fields.
2Essential Networking Resources
Campus events, 80,000+ alumni, the mentorship program, and our LinkedIn Index▾
Meet People This Month
- Events on 312 — career fairs, workshops, and speaker series all year; practice your pitch in low-stakes rooms
- Networking & Making Connections on Elevate — the companion channel with guides and opportunities
- Alumni Mentorship Program — facilitated introductions to alumni in your target industry or city
Work the Alumni Advantage
- Illinois Tech alumni on LinkedIn — filter 80,000+ graduates by company, city, or field, then send a personalized note
- Illinois Tech Alumni Association — events and programs that put you in rooms with graduates who want to help
- The #LinkedIn section of our Index — profile optimization and outreach guidance from real coaching conversations
3Go Deeper on the Craft
For everyone who would rather not network — and the one move that beats all others▾
- Harvard Business Review: Learn to Love Networking — the research-backed classic for everyone who finds networking uncomfortable; it reframes the practice around learning and generosity
- The single highest-value networking move is the informational interview — a 25-minute conversation where you ask the questions; the full playbook is one click away under More in Career Resources below
- Then make it a habit: one new conversation and one reconnection each week beats any networking event you will ever attend
Networking is a practice, not an event — bring your target list to a coach and we will plan your next five conversations.
Connect With Career ServicesMore in Career Resources
Informational Interviews · Job Search Strategy · Portfolio · LinkedIn · Career Fair Playbook · Interview Prep · Resumes
All external resources independently verified by Career Services, July 2026.
