Networking – ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know.

Posted on: 23 January 2026 by Paul Cullinan in Employer Connections Blog

From an employer's perspective, engaging with students through networking is not just about filling immediate vacancies. It’s about building relationships early, raising your organisation’s profile, and creating a future talent pipeline.

It’s the responsibility of the Employer Connections Team to build relationships with companies and organisations that ultimately provide opportunities for our students and graduates, including:

• Graduate-level employment for final-year students and recent graduates
• Year in Industry placements
• Internships
• Part-time jobs
• Involvement within the curriculum

To do this, we are not just relying on the companies who register to use our careers platform, Handshake. We also build relationships through networking, which means getting out and meeting employers at events. If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard the phrase ‘it’s not what you know, but who you know’, I’d be a millionaire. It’s a phrase I regularly emphasise when delivering networking sessions for our students.

From an employer perspective, engaging with students through networking is not just about filling immediate vacancies. It’s about building relationships early, raising your organisation’s profile, and creating a future talent pipeline. Many of our most successful student outcomes have come from informal conversations at events, guest lectures or on-campus activities that later developed into placements, internships and graduate roles. Students remember the employers who take the time to engage with them in person — networking with our students really is an investment in your future workforce.

The ability to network professionally should be an integral part of a student’s development while studying at the University. It’s a skill that can help them work towards fulfilling their career aspirations, and one that employers consistently tell us they value.

When I say this to students, I can understand them thinking, ‘Well, it’s easy for him — that’s part of his job!’ But as I always tell them, when I first started networking, I was awful. It wasn’t until I spoke to a ‘professional networker’ that I realised there is a technique to building a strong professional network. If I can learn how to do this, so can they.

We want all our students to forge successful careers. Many graduates will reach a point where their organisation relies on them to generate business, build partnerships or create opportunities — and networking becomes imperative. Developing this skill early puts them at a real advantage.

It’s imperative that students look to build their professional networks. I can give countless examples of how networking has helped secure opportunities for our students, and how many have come back to tell me that it works.

Why do it?

We also need to acknowledge the impact of COVID. Lockdowns led many of us to become more insular, relying heavily on online communication. Confidence in face-to-face interaction took a hit, and for many, rebuilding that confidence is still a work in progress.

One of the key reasons to get out and network is that it builds confidence and self-belief. Trust me — people remember faces far more than emails, phone calls or LinkedIn messages. If you want to stand out, meeting people in person still matters.

The ‘Hidden Job Market’

Students are often shocked when I tell them that statistically, 60–70% of vacancies are never openly advertised. If you’re only searching job boards or company websites, you’re fishing in the same waters as everyone else.

Networking gives students access to opportunities earlier — and gives employers visibility of talent before the graduate market becomes crowded.

Industry insight and commercial awareness

Networking isn’t just about finding placements or jobs. It’s about gaining industry insight, knowledge and awareness of the organisations operating in a sector. This helps students build their commercial awareness.

That insight gives them strong talking points at interview. Employers want real evidence that candidates understand their industry and are serious about breaking into it. Knowledge gained through networking helps demonstrate this.

Networking can also lead to mentoring relationships, with professionals supporting students through their course and helping with CVs, applications and interview preparation.

Supporting students to get started

Students are encouraged to attend networking events across the Liverpool City Region, including those delivered through Careers & Employability, the University’s Management School, local Chambers of Commerce, science parks, business expos and platforms such as Eventbrite.

Where possible, students are advised to research attendees in advance, identify key people to speak to and make contact ahead of the event. The objective isn’t to meet everyone — just the people most relevant to them.

“I’m an introvert — I can’t do networking!”

This is something I hear from students all the time — and I say the same thing every time: me too. The trick is being comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Students are encouraged to speak to event organisers, ask for introductions, or approach someone who is standing alone. A simple ‘May I join you? My name is…’ is often all it takes.

I always advise students to focus on asking ‘smart questions’. This takes the pressure off them to lead the conversation and allows professionals to do most of the talking. A quick online search will provide plenty of examples, and responses naturally lead to follow-up questions.

Knowing when to move on

Students are encouraged not to stay with the same person all evening. Once a conversation reaches a natural end, they should thank the individual for their time, exchange contact details, say they’ll follow up — and move on.

Professional value at events

Many students feel they have nothing to offer at networking events, which simply isn’t true. Everyone has contacts and perspectives that can be valuable. Introducing people to one another builds credibility and demonstrates professional value — often referred to as ‘giver’s gain’.

We also emphasise professionalism, appropriate dress and the importance of following up after events.

Start early

Students are encouraged to start building their professional networks as early as possible, rather than waiting until they need a job. A strong network, built over time, benefits both students and employers.