Career advisers drill two things for preparation to graduate: internships and networking.
As a communication major, I have especially internalized the importance of networking, but it wasn’t until my second Saturday at The Nation newspaper I realized exactly how many doors it can open if done right.
The fact I was sitting at a desk preparing questions for an assignment later in the day at The Nation was a miracle of networking in itself. I would not have had that opportunity without my professor’s and dean’s connection with various literary figureheads in Sri Lanka, particularly Malinda Seneviratne, the editor in chief of the paper.
I had a written a few short pieces to give him as samples of my work that day. One of them was my bit about fluidity to describe the people of Sri Lanka. In that piece, I referenced Sinharaja Tammita-Delgoda, a researcher and author who presented one of our finest lectures of the trip at Helga’s Folly.
The news reporter who spoke with me and helped me the most, Chamara, came to my desk a little while after I emailed Seneviratne my writings.
Chamara asked how I knew Tammita-Delgoda, because he did his research under him and was considering going to one of his lectures on India that afternoon.
While dumbfounded by the small world moment yet trying to stay composed as if this sort of coincidence happens regularly, which it can in a journalist’s career where connections are the very fuse of the job, I explained how I knew the famous researcher.
Chamara said he was invited to attend the lecture but didn’t know if he wanted to go. However, he had finished his work early and said if I was interested, he would happily attend, and I could join.
Off we went to the lecture. I met Tammita-Delgoda again and was astounded by his lecture, again. Then, on the way back, Chamara was able to answer many of the questions I had about the 13 Amendment feud sweeping the country and other news topics in Sri Lanka.
The day continued to disappear in a whirl of reporting excitement when I was sent to cover the fusion dance event.
Name after name was shared that day, and each time it moved me somewhere new to a fresh opportunity.
Networking is more than gathering business cards or shaking hands. It is a continual exchange of names and information, which multiplies the various strands one can pull from for sources.
It’s only half way successful unless you learn to use the contacts provided and prove you know their worth. Eventually, it creates a web around you, and the construction of more strands, in a way, it becomes a lifestyle.
As a communication major, I have especially internalized the importance of networking, but it wasn’t until my second Saturday at The Nation newspaper I realized exactly how many doors it can open if done right.
The fact I was sitting at a desk preparing questions for an assignment later in the day at The Nation was a miracle of networking in itself. I would not have had that opportunity without my professor’s and dean’s connection with various literary figureheads in Sri Lanka, particularly Malinda Seneviratne, the editor in chief of the paper.
I had a written a few short pieces to give him as samples of my work that day. One of them was my bit about fluidity to describe the people of Sri Lanka. In that piece, I referenced Sinharaja Tammita-Delgoda, a researcher and author who presented one of our finest lectures of the trip at Helga’s Folly.
The news reporter who spoke with me and helped me the most, Chamara, came to my desk a little while after I emailed Seneviratne my writings.
Chamara asked how I knew Tammita-Delgoda, because he did his research under him and was considering going to one of his lectures on India that afternoon.
While dumbfounded by the small world moment yet trying to stay composed as if this sort of coincidence happens regularly, which it can in a journalist’s career where connections are the very fuse of the job, I explained how I knew the famous researcher.
Chamara said he was invited to attend the lecture but didn’t know if he wanted to go. However, he had finished his work early and said if I was interested, he would happily attend, and I could join.
Off we went to the lecture. I met Tammita-Delgoda again and was astounded by his lecture, again. Then, on the way back, Chamara was able to answer many of the questions I had about the 13 Amendment feud sweeping the country and other news topics in Sri Lanka.
The day continued to disappear in a whirl of reporting excitement when I was sent to cover the fusion dance event.
Name after name was shared that day, and each time it moved me somewhere new to a fresh opportunity.
Networking is more than gathering business cards or shaking hands. It is a continual exchange of names and information, which multiplies the various strands one can pull from for sources.
It’s only half way successful unless you learn to use the contacts provided and prove you know their worth. Eventually, it creates a web around you, and the construction of more strands, in a way, it becomes a lifestyle.
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