Networking ends when you get that internship. False!

      If you think networking ends when you get that internship offer, you are up for a surprise – it does not! Your efforts to build relationships are far from being over regardless of whether you are interning with your dream company, or you are with a company that you hope will turn out to be the dream company, or you know you will, with 100% certainty, recruit again in the fall. And the fact that you need to turn the internship into a full-time offer is only one of the reasons why. So what are a couple of instances when you’ll need to network? Here are some Groupon examples:

• Networking with your fellow interns – probably, a more pleasant way to think of it is “making new friends.” It’s the familiar drill from the beginning of MBA1: “Where did you live before b-school? What did you do? What do you hope to do after your MBA? How are you liking Ann Arbor?” In the one month between the end of school and beginning of my internship I went through a self-reflection stage and came up with a few “MBA2 resolutions,” one of them being to make an effort to be more pro-active. I think the internship has given me a great opportunity to put thought into action even before school begins again. For example:
• I noticed that most of the interns have lunch together around noon each day in one of the common kitchens so when possible I try to join them. It’s fun and a great excuse to get away from the desk for half an hour. 
• Every week there is at least one email about grabbing a drink after work, going to one of the fairs and festivals Chicago is known for, etc. and I do my best to go. I’ve noticed that if people invite you a few times and you never accept, they just stop inviting you.

• Networking across the organization – at Groupon we have Breakfast & Learns every other week designed to help us learn about different divisions and functions within the company. During one of these events my interest was struck by the work someone on the branding team was doing so I followed up with an email and we set up some time to talk. Not to say that a job opportunity will open for me because of that but knowing one more person and knowing what the possibilities are could not hurt.
  
•  Networking with your HR – don’t think that the role of the HR is done once they give you that call to let you know you got the internship. At Groupon, my HR contact has been really involved in making sure I am enjoying my time and feel I am making the most out of my internship. And when I said I’d be interested in doing something a bit more analytical and strategic she said she’d ask around to see if a team had a mini-project for me.

So get your odyssey on – it’s networking time!