Introduction

You need as much information as possible to make good career decisions, and you'll find over the course of your career that the most inspiring advice often comes from the personal experiences of others.

"Networking" is a term that refers to reaching out to people you know (and sometimes people you haven't met yet) to talk about your career goals, the skills you'll need to achieve them, the realities of career fields, etc. It is the single most effective method of gathering career-related information, developing contacts within a community or an industry, and uncovering the "hidden job market."

One of the benefits of Cornell's size is the number of alumni who are available to provide career insight and advice to current students?in other words, to become part of your own network. You can gain useful advice from experienced professionals who have a wealth of information, as well as from relatively recent graduates who can offer great tips on applying to graduate and professional school or making a transition into the workplace.

Networking doesn't come easily to everyone, though. To help with the process, Cornell Career Services provides many opportunities for students to interact with alumni?through alumni panels, special programs on and off campus, job-shadowing experiences, electronic alumni networking systems, and more.