The Power of Networking

By Michael V. Morgan

Are you feeling lost on how to make the most of your time in college?  Are you having issues obtaining your dream job?  Are you feeling stagnant in your career and are seeking to excel to the next level?

 

In a rapidly evolving professional landscape, building a successful career transcends mere academic qualifications—it hinges on the power of connections, personal growth, and strategic maneuvering. "The Power of Networking" is a comprehensive blueprint designed to equip ambitious individuals with the tools needed to navigate the intricate web of career progression in the business world.

 

In this guide, you will learn:

• Guidance on how to build and maintain a network.
• Interviewing tips to differentiate yourself from other candidates.
• Negotiation tactics to obtain the best compensation.
• Roadmap for career advancement opportunities.
• Strategies for personal growth and development.
• Advice to influence others in the workplace.
• Plan of action to navigate and overcome workplace challenges.
• Direction for setting and achieving both personal and career goals.
• Recommendations to excel in college and obtain funding for undergraduate/graduate school.

With chapters on interviewing tips, negotiation tactics, remote work success, goal setting, and personal branding strategies, the book ensures a holistic understanding of career progression as an individual contributor or people manager.

 

Whether you are about to embark on your college journey, amid your college experience, or in the early-to-mid stages of your career, this book can provide you with the tools to obtain your dream job and excel in your career.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Morgan
• Release date: May 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798990378209

Michael V. Morgan

Michael Morgan obtained his BS from Penn State University and his MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. Coupled with his educational background, he has over 15 years of work experience across companies such as Amazon, Walmart, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Chevron. His ability to build and maintain his network throughout his educational and career journey has been fruitful in his success. He has a passion for teaching and inspiring others to achieve their goals.

Book preview

The_Power_of_Networking_ebookcover.jpg

The Power of Networking

Michael V. Morgan

Published by Michael Morgan, 2024.

While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

THE POWER OF NETWORKING

First edition. May 14, 2024.

Copyright © 2024 Michael V. Morgan.

ISBN: 979-8990378209

Written by Michael V. Morgan.

To my parents for the values they instilled in me and the love they provided me.

The

Power

of

networking

Strategies for Career Excellence,

Job Development, and

Building Greater Triumphs

in Your Work

Michael V. Morgan

The Power of Networking: Strategies for Career Excellence, Job Development, and Building Greater Triumphs in Your Work © Copyright 2024 Michael V. Morgan

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Adherence to all applicable laws and regulations, including international, federal, state and local governing professional licensing, business practices, advertising, and all other aspects of doing business in the US, Canada or any other jurisdiction is the sole responsibility of the reader and consumer.

Neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility or liability whatsoever on behalf of the consumer or reader of this material. Any per­ceived slight of any individual or organization is purely unintentional.

The resources in this book are provided for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the specialized training and professional judgment of a health care or mental health care professional.

Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for the use of the information provided within this book. Please always consult a trained professional before making any decision regarding treatment of yourself or others.

ISBN: 979-8-218-40063-7 - paperback

ISBN: 979-8-9903782-0-9 - ebook

ISBN: 979-8-9903782-1-6 - audiobook

To my parents

for the values they instilled in me

and the love they provided me.

Table of Contents

Introductionvii

Education is the Cornerstone1

Graduate Degrees13

The Joys of Case Competitions23

A Day in the Life of an Intern27

Collaboration is Key33

Greek Life35

Differentiate Yourself at Conferences and Interviews43

Referrals and Job Opportunities53

The Benefits of Social Media55

Hit the Ground Running59

Getting the Job Done63

Mentorship65

You Need to Eat69

Six Degrees of Separation75

Leverage Organizations81

Leverage Resources85

Find Your Passion87

The Sweetest Sound91

Maintaining Relationships93

Two-Way Street99

Ace Up My Sleeve101

Certified to Be Successful103

Leaders are Readers109

Be Comfortable with the Uncomfortable113

EI versus IQ117

Learn from Your Mistakes121

Balance Meetings and Work125

Avoid Groupthink127

The Ability to Influence131

Writing is Essential135

Approaches to Feedback141

Hire and Develop the Best145

Checkmate153

Career Advancement155

Difficult Conversations159

Be Supportive and Considerate163

Transferable Skills and Career Changes167

Know Your Worth173

Personal Branding177

Remote Work185

Entrepreneurship187

Build Your Wealth191

Microaggressions, Unconscious Bias,

and Imposter Syndrome199

Goal Setting211

Giving Back223

Acknowledgements227

Appendix235

Introduction

Networking is not about just connecting people. It’s about connecting people with people, people with ideas, and people with opportunities.

- Michele Jennae

When I was younger, I did not understand the concept of networking or put much value into it. However, over the course of my life, I grew to learn its importance and power. Networking can be defined as the process of making connections and building relationships. This can be with anyone…family, friends, classmates, teachers, advisors, colleagues, managers, or mentors. It’s a powerful tool and I would not be where I am today if I did not make the most out of networking earlier in my life. When people ask me for advice in terms of their careers, the first thing I always tell them is to build and maintain their network.

Throughout my career, I have personally experienced the benefits of networking. I have seen employees at companies only recruit candidates from their specific network, alma maters, or organizations they are affiliated with. I have seen hiring managers recruit candidates outside of the standard recruitment process. Hiring managers will hand-pick and interview candidates within their personal network for their open roles prior to the position even being published to the public. Once the job is published, it is often removed within a day and given to a specific contact in their personal circle. I have seen senior leaders who leave a company and join a new organization, maintain connections with their networks at previous companies, and eventually bring the top talent over to their new firm with them. I have observed that those who were able to secure the right mentors and sponsors through their network go on to have more successful careers and navigate their career progression more effectively.

As you can see, there are several benefits to networking. First and foremost, networking can help you find out about job opportunities. My connections know what I studied in school, the field I work in, my passions, and my career ambitions. If they identify any roles that they believe I may be a good fit for, they will reach out and inform me of them. In addition, based on my network, I have been added to different email Listservs where I receive notifications about specific job opportunities.

Throughout this book, I will provide anecdotes of how I built my network, scenarios where my network provided different job opportunities to me, and situations where I contributed to presenting job prospects to people in my network.

Networking can also help you obtain an interview in your chosen field of work. When you are applying for positions, it is likely that you are not the only potential candidate applying. Hundreds—if not, thousands—of people may be applying for the exact same role in the company. You are simply another name in a vast pool of applicants. However, if you have built up a network and you have a contact within the company, they can refer you internally. This can give you an advantage in obtaining an interview slot over other applicants. I have provided referrals for several people in my network and, in return, they have performed the same actions for me. If you personally know the hiring manager, this can help you obtain an interview as well. There may be situations where someone that you personally worked with is now building out a team and has reached out to gauge your interest in joining. Thus, your network can be directly responsible for you landing an interview with them, as well.

Your network can not only help you land a job interview—they can also ensure you receive an actual job offer. If you have family members, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances that either currently work at the company you are interviewing for or have previously worked for the company, they can provide you with insights and tips into the inner workings of the company. Interviewing is a tailored task for every specific company. That means every company has a different style or approach when it comes to interviewing, as well as specific criteria for their prospective candidates. If you approach every interview in a generic way, you will end up failing. Some companies may focus on behavioral interview questions while others may focus on case questions. If there is a technical component to a role, you will need to display your technical expertise. You need to do your research, and your network can help prepare you and ensure your success. I have several stories throughout this book that outline scenarios where my network helped me obtain interviews as well as assisted with interview preparation, and vice versa.

Once you are in the working world, you will naturally expect to climb the corporate ladder and obtain promotions, bonuses, and (over time) raises. Naturally, a component of succeeding at this will be your ability to perform your job effectively. However, another big portion of your success will be due to your ability to network correctly.

They may be the ones giving out promotions, but you can’t leave your career in your manager’s hands. You need to manage your own career, because often the decision to promote or increase your pay is not up to one singular person. It relies on you, and is ultimately the decision of a committee of people. The manager will need to build support and provide documentation to justify your promotion, which (if they are a good manager) they will try to do. But if the other people in the room discussing whether to promote you or not do not know who you are, what your scope is, or what you have accomplished, chances are—regardless of how great you are at your job—you will not move up within the company.

You need to network with senior leaders within the company and ensure everyone knows who you are. They should all be aware of the value you bring to the table and what you have accomplished. Throughout this book, I will provide tips and strategies to help you both build and maintain your network. These recommendations to create connections can be leveraged to identify opportunities, secure interviews, obtain offers, and climb the corporate ladder.

One of the means to help you move up the corporate ladder is through mentorships. Mentorship can be defined as guidance provided from an experienced person in a company or educational institution. A mentor can help you form a strategy for navigating your career and developing professionally. Some companies have a formal mentorship program that employees can sign up for, through which they will automatically be assigned a mentor. If your company has a formal mentorship program, I strongly recommend that you apply. Regardless of whether your company has a formal mentorship program or not, I would also recommend seeking mentors on your own in conjunction. Throughout this book, I will provide suggestions to identify and establish mentor/mentee relationships in both school and the workplace. I will also outline means to get the most out of a mentorship relationship.

Networking is not just about promotion—it can also help you perform your job better. You will find throughout your career that you may be asked to do something by your superior that you have no idea how to do. You may leave a meeting confused and struggling to figure out where to start. Sometimes, you will be able to teach yourself and figure out how to do the job at hand as you go—you may be able to use Google, read a book, or even watch a YouTube video to learn how to do something correctly. Other times, it won’t be that simple. In those instances, if you have a strong network, you probably know someone who can teach you, point you in the direction of the right person, or provide documents that can help get you up to speed. This can be instrumental in helping you complete your job responsibilities.

As best practice, I would recommend trying to learn on your own first. If you simply reach out to your network and state that you do not know how to perform a task, it may rub people the wrong way when they learn you haven’t even tried to figure it out on your own before asking for help. People are already busy with their own deliverables, and helping you with your own tasks can be additional work for them. However, if you approach someone and inform them that you have performed your due diligence to execute the task, but you still cannot figure it out, they will be more appreciative that you tried on your own and will be more willing to help. Show them that you tried and provide them with details of your understanding of the task at hand, as well as where, specifically, you are getting stuck in the process. This book will provide guidance on how to leverage your network to perform your job responsibilities effectively.

Your network can help you identify new job opportunities, refer you for roles, assist with interview preparation, aid you in performing your job, provide mentorship or sponsorship, and even help you get promoted. I have worked for some of the biggest companies in the world, including J.P. Morgan Chase, Chevron, Amazon, and Walmart. I have transitioned across different industries, including financial services, oil and gas, technology, and retail. These experiences have led me to a senior leadership role in the cybersecurity industry. Throughout this book, I will discuss how I have been able to navigate my career, how networking has been the key component that enabled me to do so, and how it can help you do the same.

Education is the Cornerstone

Everyone should build their network before they need it.

- Dave Delaney

The foundation of your network begins in college. In addition to being a pillar for your network, college can also provide you with new experiences and different perspectives. In order to be successful in your career, you need to be able to see the world from multiple viewpoints and think about the bigger picture. Having a vast amount of experiences, meeting new people, and living in different places during college will set you up to be able to effectively manage change and provide input to decision-making. These experiences will lead you to approach issues differently than your peers and provide a unique point of view in the workplace. Diversity of thought considers all options and leads to better decisions.

I always preach that a balance of work and life is a must. You need to enjoy life for your mental and physical health. If you solely focus on your education and career, you will burn yourself out. If you are feeling depleted or exhausted all the time, you will be unable to focus on your work and will not be able to think critically or be effective in the classroom or the workplace. It is important to work hard, but do not lose yourself. Make sure to set time aside for your loved ones and the activities that you enjoy.

College classes and organizations can provide you with the proper skills needed to excel in your career. In the classroom, you can learn the basic concepts that need to be applied in your desired field to be successful, as well as develop your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Outside of the classroom, you obtain leadership skills through roles in organizations and group projects, communication skills through speaking to professors and peers, teamwork skills by working with your classmates, and time-management skills from managing your day-to-day responsibilities.

It is always great to make friends at school. Depending on whether you go to a school local to your hometown or attend one further away, you may need to meet completely new friends. They can serve as your support structure to be successful both on and off campus. Your peers will be entering similar fields and companies, which means you can support each other as you seek career opportunities. The faculty and staff can also provide guidance, especially to help you excel post-graduation. These connections need to be maintained and leveraged when you pursue different opportunities once you leave to embark on a new journey. In addition, these connections can introduce you to their network, further developing your social circle. Building these relationships can ultimately lead to job opportunities, referrals, interview assistance, and career progression, as highlighted in the previous chapter. The more people that you know, the more doors will be opened for you and the more options will be available.

I went to Penn State University for my undergraduate degree where I majored in Business Management, and I minored in Legal Environment of Business. To be completely honest, Penn State was not my first choice when it came to undergraduate schools. My first choice was actually New York University. I was born and raised in New York, and I had friends who were already students at NYU. Thus, I had a network there, and it would have been a more comfortable transition. Going to school in the heart of New York City sounded amazing—however, at the time, tuition for undergrad students was over $40,000 per year. The school did not offer me any scholarships and by no means did my family have an extra $40,000 a year to help me pay for tuition, let alone the additional funds to assist with room and board.

One day, I received a phone call from Penn State University. I had already received an acceptance letter from them in the mail and shared the news with my family. I wasn’t sure why they were calling, but they asked to speak with my parents. I obliged and told my father there was someone on the phone who wanted to speak with him. The call only lasted several minutes. When he hung up, he walked over to me and said, You are going to Penn State. Then, he proceeded to walk away.

I found out later that the university had called my home to offer me a Bunton-Waller Fellowship. Essentially, this fellowship would pay for my tuition if I maintained a 3.0 grade point average. My parents and I only had to worry about the costs of room and board. Once that was made clear to my father, the decision was made for me to go to Penn State.

In 1904, Calvin Hoffman Waller was the first African American man to graduate from Penn State. In 1932, Mildred Settle Bunton was the first African American woman to graduate from Penn State. To honor them, the Bunton-Waller Fellowship was created. This fellowship seeks to enhance the diversity of the student population among undergraduates and graduates at Smeal, the Business School at Penn State. This fellowship is awarded to individuals from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds with strong academic and professional potential. My hard work in high school had paid off, and I was offered this life-changing opportunity.

I was honored to be selected, but I was also disappointed that I would not be attending NYU. More so, I was upset that the decision was made for me. Part of me wondered what my career path would have been had I attended NYU instead. However, I am an avid believer that everything happens for a reason. I loved my experience at Penn State, and I would not change it for anything. I obtained a great education, and I had a lot of fun along the way.

The main campus of Penn State University is in the middle of Pennsylvania, in a city that is so centered around the school that the city itself is named State College. The football field, known as Beaver Stadium, is a towering building on the northern edge of campus. It’s impossible to miss. The arena can hold over 100,000 people, which is more than most National Football League stadiums. The school is obsessed with its football team; when you set foot in Beaver Stadium on a Saturday, the feeling is electric. Everyone in the stadium is dressed in the school colors of blue and white. There is excitement in the air, especially when we start our chant. One side of the stadium yells out, WE ARE! while the other side responds, PENN STATE! We even use this chant outside of the stadium, too, if the situation feels right.

The entire city shuts down on game day. I had never seen anything like it. Prior to going to Penn State, I never paid much attention to college sports. I mainly enjoyed watching professional sports leagues. But there, my viewpoint changed.

College sports have always been a way to unite people to cheer for their alma mater. Whether you are a current student or an alum, it brings people together, creates an opportunity for social interaction, and fosters a community. As a student, I met a lot of peers at football games. We created memories and built relationships on Saturdays at Penn State. As an alum, I joined local chapters and attended football watch parties to connect with fellow alumni in different cities I have lived in. It has always served as a means to help me build my network.

When I was younger, I was under the impression that you simply applied to the colleges of your choice. If you got accepted to multiple schools, you picked your favorite and that’s where you went. Now that I am older, I am much wiser. I am grateful for the opportunity to even have attended college, let alone a college as prestigious as Penn State. There are a lot of people smarter than me and more deserving than me who were never able to attend college. They may not have had the finances. They may not have had a good family support structure. They may have grown up in a situation where college was never an option. Going to Penn State provided me with some of the best memories of my life. It also set me up to be where I am today, and I am forever indebted to the university for it. I was able to build my network at Penn State, which provided me with the guidance, direction, and support to steer my career and future opportunities.

Many people I have spoken to over the years have voiced concerns about the costs of higher education. This brings me to my first lesson: costs for tuition, as well as room and board. I agree that school is expensive. However, you need to look at attending college as a return on your investment. Even though it may cost a vast amount of money upfront, if it can aid you in obtaining the education you need and building the network critical to your future success, it is worth the time and money.

Secondly, many people do not take the time and effort to research and apply for fellowships and scholarships. Often, they aren’t aware that these things are even an option. Our society has become solely focused on sports, and many assume that the only means to obtain a fellowship or scholarship is through athletic endeavors. However, through my academic rigor, I was able to obtain a full-tuition fellowship to Penn State University. Scholarships and fellowships are available through athletics, academics, merit, music, community service, leadership, military, need-based, and countless other aspects. If you are unable to obtain a scholarship, there are grants and student loans that can be applied for. Some people opt to work part-time during their studies to assist with the costs. It is up to everyone to research, identify, and apply for scholarships that they may qualify for. Well before applying to college, it is up to you to ensure you have built up the background and experience necessary to earn scholarships. You must also research part-time jobs and balance your schoolwork with your occupation. This can greatly influence whether you can go to school and which school you can attend.

Third, humility is a trait that is often overlooked. As I stated, not everyone has the opportunity to go to college. Whether or not a person attends college is not always based on their intelligence or skill level. Thus, when you are provided with the chance to attend a college or receive an offer for a full-time role, you need to be grateful, and you need to make the most of your circumstances. You cannot take these opportunities for granted. Often, people are already looking for the next achievement. Make sure you take the time to appreciate the moment. Be grateful for what you have. Be thankful for what you achieved.

As a child, my maternal grandfather once said to me in his Jamaican accent, Michael, pick your company! At the time, I had no clue what he was talking about. My mother later told me that he meant, Choose your friends wisely. During my college experience, I decided to take this advice to heart. I was in a new city, miles away from everything I knew. This was my first time living away from home.

Moving for college has served me well throughout my life. Since moving to State College, I have moved to six different cities across five different states for different job and educational opportunities. My ability to acclimate to a new city while living in State College and build a network to ensure my success provided me with the foundation to be able to move anywhere in the world, if need be. As I stated, school can provide you with new experiences that can be leveraged throughout life.

My journey in networking started from Day One at Penn State, when I joined the Smeal College of Business. Business has always interested me. My parents taught me important life skills from a young age, such as finance and negotiation, which tie in directly with a business degree. I also may have been following in the footsteps of my father and brother, as they were positive, successful male role models in my life, and I aspired to be like them. Regardless, I always knew business was my path—though I didn’t know which area of business I wanted to focus on.

I am a firm believer in