Let's Connect! Start Networking in College

Written by Yoo Hyeon Park

Yoo Hyeon is an alum of The Selling Factory and marketing graduate at he University of Florida. As an Advisory Associate at KMPG, she enjoys interacting with clients and developing solutions to their business challenge in Finance and Supply Chain/Operations sectors.

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

BUILD A NETWORK

Are you exhausted from applying for numerous jobs and receiving rejection emails? You must be in the same boat with me. I surely have been disappointed by another email saying “Sorry but we decided to move on with another candidate.” Sometimes, I am left up in the air without knowing what happened to my job application.

Working at The Selling Factory opened my eyes to see a better way of landing opportunities for career development. Instead of spending hours performing a job search on LinkedIn, I should have used that time contacting different types of networking connections such as alumni and working professionals.

Matt Youngquist, the president of Career Horizons, advises many young professionals to take time to speak with employers. “The majority of hiring is friends and acquaintances hiring other trusted friends and acquaintances.” In fact, “at least 70%, if not 80%, of jobs are not published,” he says.

Networking can lead you to connect with employers and allow you to become an employer yourself. One of The Selling Factory alumni, Erin Winick, shares that someone whom she connected with in college helped her find an incubator for her startup company, Sci Chic (Sci Chic is a science-inspired, 3D printed jewelry retail). Winick adds that her network also came in handy in life. Before moving to London, she already knew friends who could help her settle. 

THE MORE THE MERRIER

Get out of your comfort zone. Not many people have the courage to cold call when reaching out to people, especially those not in your area of expertise. Though studying mechanical engineering in college, Winick now works in as a Science Communications Specialist for the Internal Space Station. In college, she wishes that she could have networked with people who aren’t directly related to her studies. “I am curious if I missed the opportunity to network with others that shared my interest,” she says. Research shows that only 27% of college graduates had a job that was closely related to their major.

You don’t know what the future holds, so why not challenge yourself to broaden your network across industries now? Who knows what opportunities will pop up?

Maximize your LinkedIn account. In the 2018 Recruiter Nation Survey, 77% of recruiters used LinkedIn to find candidates. This means that you will have more opportunities for career development via LinkedIn. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account or haven’t updated your profile, do so now because you are missing out on opportunities for career development. Stay active! In addition to sharpening your profile, connect with different types of networking connections such as peers and alumni. Comment and share posts relevant to your industry. Although you may tend to socialize more on Instagram, put equal effort into your LinkedIn account than your Instagram account.

Make 100 new contacts each month. Volume is a big part of securing a job through networking. “It takes X number of contacts to get this many appointments, to get this many chances of actually getting a sales opportunity or a job,” Youngquist says. Pretend that you are a sales development representative responsible for selling ‘you.’ If you are performing a job search on LinkedIn, then you should also make at least 100 new contacts each month. Cold calling recruiters via email, sending connection messages on Linkedin, and attending events for face-to-face encounters with employers are ways to reach this goal.

ENJOY THE PROCESS

Everyone has to eat. Many professionals are very busy even if they mean to help you. Ask someone to meet over lunch. This is a good time to chat without having to carve out their valuable time. Before meeting, write out the questions you would like to ask and let them know the topic you would like to discuss. Winick suggests thinking about what you could also offer them in return. “The best relationships are not one-way but two-way relationships,” says Winick.

If you are struggling with your job search on LinkedIn without making personal connections, change up your strategy. Review your different types of networking connections. Revisit your past connections and establish new connections. Be proactive in building relationships, even if they are not directly related to your industry field. You never know how these diverse types of networking connections will help you in the future!

Building your social circle will help you to go a long way in life. That’s why I put together these tips on how to network.

Victoria Zamitalo

Campaign Manager

Victoria received a BA in History and Economics from the University of Florida in May 2023. She is a driven sales professional with over 5 years combined experience in customer service, consumer relations and outbound sales, and is deeply passionate about fostering close relationships between consumers and sellers. She aims to train the next generation of sales professionals in not only the tricks of the trade, but also interpersonal skills that make sales the exciting and ever-changing industry that it is.

victoria@thesellingfactory.com

Mia Semel

Campaign Manager

Before graduating with a B.A. in Sustainability Studies, Mia took on multiple roles while interning at The Selling Factory, including sales development, recruiting, and leading campaigns. She is an active listener and effective communicator, specializing in fostering genuine connections and finding common ground among differing perspectives. She aims to find practical, creative solutions regarding sustainable development, biodiversity and the climate crisis.

mia.semel@thesellingfactory.com

Kira Grieve

Senior Campaign Manager

Kira graduated from the University of Florida and received her Master of Science in Entrepreneurship. She is passionate about helping businesses grow and connecting with new people. Some of her hobbies include traveling and hiking. She hopes to visit all of the National Parks one day!

kira@thesellingfactory.com

Jared Glosser

Vice President

After graduating from UF in 2014 with a B.A. in history, Jared started his professional career Fundraising for a non-partisan political lobby in South Florida. In 2016, Jared moved back to Gainesville to work for a non-profit, recruit students for international travel opportunities, and pursue his MBA at UF. Jared has been with The Selling Factory since 2019 focusing on operations, client onboarding, and client success.

jared@thesellingfactory.com

Ian Massenburg

Chief Operating Officer

A graduate of University of Florida (B.A. 2001), Ian Massenburg brings over 18 years of sales executive and sales management experience to The Selling Factory. Before coming on-board, Ian worked alongside Brad at Infinite Energy, and then spent his next 3 years as VP of Partnerships selling SaaS products B2B. Ian brings his vast knowledge and experience to the team and to our partner companies served.

ian@thesellingfactory.com

Damien Paulk

Campaign Manager

Damien is a University of Florida graduate that recently joined the team full time after working as a Sales Development Intern for one year. As a Campaign Manager, Damien looks forward to contributing to the growth and success of The Selling Factory. When Damien is not at work he enjoys exploring Gainesville with his girlfriend and dog or watching the Gators dominate college football.

damien@thesellingfactory.com

Brendan Viehman

Campaign Manager

Brendan graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Project Management. For the past 5 years, he has enjoyed working with blockchain technology and cryptocurrency development. In his free time, he surfs and makes personal finance videos for his YouTube channel.

brendan@thesellingfactory.com

Savannah Howard

Campaign Manager

A graduate from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, Savannah obtained her Bachelor of Science in public relations with a concentration in French. After almost two years as a sales development intern for The Selling Factory, she joined the leadership team in 2021 taking on the role of Campaign Manager. In her free time, Savannah enjoys going to concerts and festivals and cooking for her friends and family.

savannah@thesellingfactory.com

Zack Kampf

Campaign Manager

Zack is a creative technologist with experience in advertising, event planning, and game design. He started as an SDR in 2018 and has been with TSF ever since. Upon graduating UF in 2019 he became a campaign manager and is currently seeking a master's degree from NYU. In his spare time, you can find him at the intersection of Art & Technology!

zack@thesellingfactory.com

Josiah Blakemore

Growth Manager

Josiah has over 10 years of sales experience, worked with Brad and Ian at Infinite Energy, and also spent time selling SaaS as Director of Partnerships at SharpSpring. He’s always been very competitive and has a love for sports and games. He enjoys solving problems and coaching team members to do the same!

josiah@thesellingfactory.com

Sue-Ming Frauenhofer

Marketing Manager

Sue-Ming received both her B.S. in Psychology and M.S. in Management from The University of Florida. As a student, she took on multiple roles while interning at The Selling Factory, including sales development, marketing, and recruiting, eventually leading to her current role as Marketing Manager. She enjoys refining her taste in music and visual art, engaging in mindfulness and meditative practices, and frolicking outside with her sidekick pup.

sueming@thesellingfactory.com

Adam Grossman

Chief Development Officer

Adam is an ordained rabbi, who has founded multiple ventures focused on workforce development. Hired as CEO by a failing non-profit, in over 5 years, his ingenuity saved the organization, which led Slingshotfund.org to recognize it as one of North America’s most innovative Jewish non-profits. His expertise to identify, cultivate, and on-board talent ensures our student teams meet our partners’ needs.

adam@thesellingfactory.com

Brad Gamble

Chief Executive Officer

After graduating from UF in 1999 with a B.S.B.A, Brad Gamble has dedicated himself to sales management, branding, coaching, and building companies. He served as the VP of Sales & Marketing for Infinite Energy until 2014, when he founded The Selling Factory. He has dedicated himself to teaching critical skills to tomorrow’s leaders, and helping companies achieve sales success and revenue growth.

brad@thesellingfactory.com