With virtually every professional role posted online, is it really necessary to build a professional network? Though the world of work looks different than it did even when you were beginning your graduate degree, one thing remains the same: Networking is the single most effective way to actually get jobs.
When you use networking in your early exploration, it helps you get insight that only those working in your field of interest have. You are able to tap into the knowledge of professionals who not only were successful in getting the kind of work you want, but who also know the nuance of what it is like to work in the field, company or role. Networking can also help you understand which skills are in demand (and you, therefore, need to build), what makes a candidate marketable and how a particular company may approach their hiring.
When you are at the point of job searching or getting experience in a certain type of work, having a contact or two in companies/industries of interest can potentially allow you to hear of upcoming opportunities that may not be marketed openly yet. Additionally, your network can help get your resume into human hands and past the online submission vortex. This is particularly important if you are transitioning to a different type of work than you have previously done (a situation most academics find themselves in when entering industry).
Lastly, referrals are a preferred way of hiring for employers. Their hiring risk is smaller if they have some context for a candidate. They know that others are willing to vouch for the candidate’s work and congeniality. Hiring is costly and time-consuming; having a colleague go to the effort of referring a candidate gives a little more peace of mind and may just tip the scales in the candidate’s favor.