By Hayley Eselevsky, Student at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Researchers are calling this time period the “generation of networking.” From social networking on Facebook and Twitter to networking on professional sites such as LinkedIn, networking today is more important than ever.

One main advantage of being a sorority woman is being able to network with a large group of current and past sisters.

Jordyn Ginsburg, member of Sigma Delta Tau’s Kappa chapter at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, networked with a sister to obtain a job this summer.

“My friend Missy recommended me for a position at a day camp that she worked at last summer,” Ginsburg said. “It was really beneficial because it was an easy way for me to find a summer job, and I get to work with a friend.”

Not only is networking with sorority sisters beneficial for summer jobs, but it can be beneficial for future careers and important internships.

Personally, I am a member of LinkedIn, and I am a member of the Sigma Delta Tau national group on LinkedIn. Sorority groups and communities like this can be useful in the professional world. Frequently, other past and current sisters post in the group asking if anybody knows of any job openings in a certain area in a certain field. More times than not, somebody responds with a useful answer and job opening.

Although it may seem like a shallow connection, if somebody interviewing you for a job shares the connection of being a member of the same sorority with you, it can benefit you in the long run. Yes, there can be drawbacks about the connotation of being a “sorority girl,” but if someone has this common bond with you, it can only benefit you in the long run.

So next time you are looking for anything, from a job to an internship, I encourage sorority members to network with alumnae and current sisters. Who knows what awesome opportunities you will find!

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