As you enter the work world and start looking for jobs, you’ll discover something…

It’s all about who you know, and who knows you.

As I started the college program for Disney, I heard a lot of advice from students who had done the program. But there was one thing that they seemed to emphasize—networking.  As freshman and sophomores in college, none of us really knew what they meant by this. And none of us wanted to be the one who asked. So we just nodded ours heads….uh-huh, networking, yes, we’ll do lots of that!

Finally somebody from Disney stepped up and said, “Let me explain this, because I didn’t know what networking meant. All we’re saying is get your name out there. Introduce yourself to everybody. Tell them what you want them to know—you’re a student, this is your major, this is where you go to school, this is what you’re interested in doing when you graduate. All of the above, or whatever you think is important.”

She couldn’t have said it better.

The managers at my store knew two things about me (besides my name): where I went to school, and my major.  Within weeks, one of them (I had six. Yes, six managers) approached me and said that he knew someone who worked on the team of 16 people who plan, design, create, and open all of the Disney resorts in the Walt Disney World Complex. This person had graduated from the same school I was attending, and was involved in designing the Fitness Spas at each hotel. And he had started with the college program back in the 70s.

Would I like to meet him? Yes!!!

So I did. He showed me the fitness center in the newest resort, asked me a few questions, and told me a lot about himself and how he got where he is now.  Then he said he knew somebody I might be interested in meeting. She also graduated from our alma mater, and worked in food service (more applicable to my nutrition major).  After a few e-mails and phone calls, I had a meeting with her. We met and had a great little chat, and she introduced to me to yet another person she thought I’d like to meet—a chef. Not just any chef, the chef who writes all the menus for special food allergies or needs (vegan, gluten-free, no peanuts, no lactose, etc.).  When I met with him, he encouraged me to specialize in food allergies, if I had interest in it.  Obviously he did, and was doing something great with it—allowing people with allergies to still enjoy dining out while on vacation without worrying about a trip to the ER.

I still have the business cards I collected from everyone I met, and I still keep in touch with my manager. They know me, and if I wanted to go back down to Florida and work, I’d just give them a call. Obviously that doesn’t guarantee me a job, but it puts me one step ahead of other job candidates.

Since that experience, I never hesitate to introduce myself to anyone and everyone.  I’ve learned that it doesn’t just have to be the “food people”, or the nutritionists, or even just people in health care. Everyone I’ve worked with has something to offer me, and hopefully I am able to return the favor…..somewhere along the way.  And now, as a new graduate, I’ve joined the alumni association.  In college it sounded like a group that just kept giving money to the school. Now, I realize it’s a powerful networking tool.  You can never know too many people.

As I head into my new role as an Intern, I know this is crucial. We will be at hospitals, community centers, conferences, cafeterias, etc. We will work with a lot of people that could potentially hire us when it’s all over. I’ll put my name out there, introduce myself, and do what I can to make my mark.  We’ll see where it goes from there…

Posted by Mary Ellen Nunes at 07/09/2008 12:28:20 PM |