Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Spring 2013 | Page 25

In this economy of elevated
unemployment and underemployment,
of job uncertainty and shifting
career paths, “who you know” has
never been more important.

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Need CareerAdvice? Got Advice to Give?
by Jessica Allen Bernthal

ccording to a June 2012 article in Bloomberg
Business Week, research shows that half or more
of all jobs come through informal channels:
connections to friends, families, and colleagues.
So regardless of how keen an individual may feel
about networking, experts and laypeople agree—
it’s essential, whether you’re a seasoned employee looking to ascend
the corporate ladder or a recent grad just trying to get a foot on the
first rung. Even if you’re headed for the mission field or the halls of
academia, networking can be vital.
Wheaton’s own networking tool, Wheaton in Network (WiN),
officially launched in March 2012. Nearly 2,000 alumni and parents
have signed up to be mentors and advisors —1,200 of these within
the first two weeks of the site’s release.
At first only available for student use, WiN just opened up to young
alumni (2003-12 graduates) this spring, and in 2014, it will open
to all alumni interested in making career connections.
Steven Moore ’12, a business and economics major with aspirations

Join Wheaton in Network (WiN),
Wheaton’s online alumni networking tool.

of working in the energy industry, admits he was initially ambivalent
about networking to find a job, which to him meant having to
aggressively “sell” himself and his skills to potential employers.
“I’m not that kind of guy,” he says sheepishly. “I don’t like the idea
of having to be pushy to get a job. It makes me a little uncomfortable.”
Given Steven’s claim to fame among Wheaton locals, one would
hardly expect him to be so self-effacing. While riding the train to
Chicago with his wife shortly after graduation, Steven spotted CNBC
personality Rick Santelli across the aisle and decided to introduce
himself. The newlyweds were moving to Houston that week, and
Steven figured this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “I’m a fan of
Santelli, and I told him I really appreciate his points of view,” he says.
Impressed with Steven’s moxie, Santelli invited him on a tour
of the Chi 6v