Looking for a job as a recent graduate – a task that a university education does not necessarily prepare you for – can be fairly daunting. Having recently been through the process of deciding where I wanted to work, applying and interviewing with those companies, I was surprised to discover how helpful it was to “network” through each phase of my job search.

It is probably worth mentioning that “networking” is one of those overused corporate terms that every job seeker frequently runs into. In this instance, by networking I mean simply the act of seeking out and speaking to people that have some connection to a potential employer.

Before embarking on my own job search, I remember doubting that I would be able to find contacts to speak to who would actually prove to be helpful. I was pleasantly surprised not only by the ease with which I did find people to get in touch with, but also their willingness to provide assistance and advice.

In my case, the best source of contacts was my university’s alumni network, which provided me with names and details of individuals with links to almost every company I was looking into. Many of my friends and acquaintances were also able to find me helpful people to speak to at companies I was interested in. Though I personally didn’t call on them, I know many people who found valuable contacts through their parents and other family relations as well.

The importance of networking quickly became apparent to me during the first phase of my job search – figuring out what I wanted to do. Job descriptions can be remarkably poor at conveying any real sense of what one will actually be doing day to day. I found that talking to as many people as I could about what they were doing and what I wanted to do really helped me start to clarify what industries and companies I should be looking at.

When I began sending out applications, talking to people who worked or had worked at the companies to which I was applying was also incredibly useful. Most potential employers are looking for specific qualities in job applicants and I found that through networking I was able to get a much better understanding of what those criteria were. This helped me tailor my CV and covering letter to each specific company as well as helping me identify the companies I was best suited to.

Many organisations want to see that you have an understanding not only of what they do but of what their specific values are. By gaining an understanding of these and demonstrating this understanding in your application, you are much more likely to be invited to interview.

It is also worth mentioning that current employees at many companies may be willing to act as a referrer for your application. While the impact of this on your application is debatable and no doubt varies depending on the company in question, being referred by an existing employee will definitely not do any harm.

As is the case for most people, I was only invited to interview with a few of the companies to which I had applied. Having spoken to others who had been through the interview process with the same organisations proved very helpful. While you are unlikely to be able to reduce the amount of time spent preparing, having a good sense of what the criteria you will be evaluated on are is invaluable. At the very least, speaking to past candidates will ensure that you don’t find yourself surprised by the interview process.

While at first I was reluctant to reach out to people with whom I had no previous contact, I was surprised by how willing the vast majority of people I spoke to were to provide advice. I would encourage anyone starting a job search to try to network if for no other reason than to ensure you know what you’re getting yourself into.