Networking Didn’t Get Me a New Job, But It Changed Everything About How I Got One

Jaselle Madelo-Casongsong
Apr 16
4 min read

There’s a version of networking I used to believe in—the kind where you collect LinkedIn connections like Pokémon cards and hope something sticks.

This semester completely rewired that thinking.

What I learned isn’t just how to network. It’s how to build relationships that actually move your career forward—especially in an industry like marketing where your thinking matters just as much as your output.

Part 1: What Actually Changed My Thinking

One of the most impactful moments for me came from listening to Nori.

Her story didn’t follow a straight line—and that’s exactly why it resonated.

She moved across industries before landing in digital marketing, and instead of framing that as a weakness, she used it as her edge. That shifted something for me. I realized that:

Career paths don’t need to be linear to be valuable
Diverse experiences can actually sharpen your perspective
You don’t need to “have it all figured out” to move forward

That insight felt personal.

As someone pivoting deeper into digital marketing, I used to see my past experience as something I needed to “translate.” Now, I see it as something I can leverage.

image generated from Gemini

The biggest mindset shift?

"Stop waiting to be told what to do—start showing how you think."

This came up repeatedly across speakers.

I recognized myself in this weakness:

Waiting for direction
Hesitating to share ideas
Holding back out of fear of being wrong

But in marketing—especially client-facing roles—that hesitation becomes invisible.

No one sees your thinking if you don’t express it.

That realization changed how I approach:

Class discussions
Group work
Even interviews

Now, I focus less on being “right” and more on being valuable in the conversation.

From Outputs to Outcomes (A Quiet but Powerful Lesson)

Another idea that stuck with me throughout the seminar series:

"It’s not enough to show what you made—you need to show what it did."

This hit hard.

I’ve done real marketing work:

Campaigns
Branding executions
In-store activations

Photo: A photo of me taking pictures of shoes as "credential" or "proof" of skill.

But I often presented them visually, not strategically.

For example:

I showcased a branded company van
But didn’t highlight how many leads or traffic it generated

That’s a missed opportunity.

In a B2B or hiring context, that weakens credibility.

Now, I think in terms of:

Impact
Performance signals
Business outcomes

And that shift alone is something I’ll carry into every portfolio piece moving forward.

Part 2: Building a Network That Actually Matters

Networking this semester wasn’t just theoretical—it was something I actively built.

People I Connected With

I built meaningful connections with:

My classmates (ongoing collaboration and support system)
Professors (guidance + industry perspective)
People I met through college-oriented networking events
Guest speakers like Nori, Barry, and Pranoy

These weren’t just one-time conversations.

They became:

Sources of insight
Career references
People I can reach out to when needed

Events That Changed My Perspective

I attended:

A CMA marketer's night networking event
Multiple George Brown student events

Photo: Me and new network attending CMA's Marketer's Night

What stood out wasn’t just the networking—it was what I learned about the industry:

Marketing is evolving fast (AI, data, omnichannel thinking)
Events are still powerful—if done with intention
Real conversations > surface-level introductions

Events aren’t just about meeting people.

They’re about:

Understanding where the industry is going
Seeing how professionals think in real-time

The Role of LinkedIn (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

LinkedIn became more than just a profile this semester.

It became:

A publishing platform
A networking tool
A personal brand builder

Instead of just connecting, I started thinking about:

What I share
How I position my experience
How I show my thinking publicly

And that’s where networking becomes scalable.

Because people don’t just connect with you—they understand you.

From Networking to Opportunity: My Co-op Search Experience

I'll be starting my co-op at Wellwise as a Social Media Marketing Specialist.

Interestingly, I didn’t get it directly through networking—I found it on Indeed.

But here’s the part that matters:

Everything I learned from networking helped me get the role.

Specifically:

Communicating clearly and confidently
Translating ideas into strategy
Showing thought process, not just execution
Understanding how to speak to business impact

So even though networking didn’t open the door directly—it helped me walk through it successfully.

What Actually Works in Networking (From Experience)

Here’s what I’ve learned that actually makes a difference:

1. Follow up—but make it meaningful

Not just “Nice to meet you.”Add context. Mention something specific you discussed.

2. Be curious, not transactional

People can tell when you just want something. Ask questions. Learn from them.

image generated from Gemini

3. Show your thinking publicly

Posting on LinkedIn builds credibility even before conversations happen.

4. Stay consistent

Networking isn’t one event—it’s ongoing:

Checking in
Engaging with posts
Sharing updates

5. Don’t wait to be ready

Speak up. Share ideas. Start conversations.That’s how people remember you.

Final Thought: Networking Isn’t About Who You Know

It’s about:

👉 How you show up

👉 How you think

👉 And how you make people remember you

This semester taught me that networking isn’t a separate skill from marketing.

It is marketing.

You are the brand.

Your thinking is the strategy.

Your conversations are the campaign.

And if you approach it that way—opportunities don’t just appear.

You create them.