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You're Not Bad at Networking. The System Is Broken.
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
I talked about why 80% of students never talk to a professional—and what you can actually do about it.
By Emily McSherry, Founder & CEO Advize
I was on The Stroke It Guide Podcast last week, and the host asked me why I started Advize.
Here's what I told her:
"Almost 80% of college students don't even talk to one professional while they're in college or have a coffee chat. And there's a lot of reasons why—time, skill, networks, confidence, all those sorts of things hold students back."
If you've ever felt guilty about not networking enough, this is for you.
It's Not You. It's the System.
You've been told networking is essential. That you should be doing informational interviews. That "it's not what you know, it's who you know."
Cool. But here's what they don't tell you:
It takes 25+ hours just to talk to 10 people.
You have to:
Figure out who to reach out to
Find their contact info
Write a personalized message (that doesn't sound desperate)
Follow up when they don't respond
Schedule around their availability
Prepare good questions
Actually have the conversation
Send a thank you note
Now multiply that by 10. That can be more than a full work week—on top of your classes, assignments, part-time job, and everything else you're juggling.
And if you're first-gen, a transfer student, or working 20+ hours a week? You're likely starting with zero professional contacts.
Your classmate's dad knows someone at Goldman Sachs. Your friend's mom can get them an informational interview at Google.
You? You're Googling "how to find people to network with" and feeling behind before you even start.
Your career center is overwhelmed. They're helping hundreds of students. They can't give you personalized guidance for your specific interests.
Your professors haven't worked in industry in years. They're brilliant at teaching, but they can't tell you what it's like to actually work in marketing, consulting, or engineering today.
What You're Actually Up Against
You're making huge decisions—your major, your internships, your career direction—without real insight into what those careers are actually like.
You get:
Job descriptions (written by HR)
Salary ranges (doesn't tell you if you'd like the work)
Maybe one alumni panel (if you show up)
That's not enough to make an informed decision about your future.
What You Can Actually Do
1. Stop comparing yourself to people with built-in networks
Their parents make introductions. They have family friends in every industry. They got their internship through a connection.
That's not your path. And that's okay. You need a different strategy. You will be successful, and your future kids will have these benefits someday, too.
2. Find scalable ways to hear from professionals
You don't need 25 hours to talk to 10 people. You need to hear authentic stories from people actually doing the work—in a way that doesn't require existing contacts or endless hours. Advize is that place you can go today.
3. Take action even when you're not ready
On the podcast, I talked about how clarity follows movement. You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need to take one step. Watch one video. Ask one question. Reach out to one person.
Action beats anxiety. Every time.
Listen to What Actually Helps
On the podcast, I talked about:
Why I chose entrepreneurship after getting laid off (and the tradeoffs)
How to actually reach out to professionals without feeling terrified
Why "who you know" doesn't matter until you know someone
How to take action when you're stuck and overwhelmed
If you're feeling behind, lost, or like everyone else has it figured out except you—this episode is for you.
You're not behind. You're just navigating a broken system.
And now you know it's not your fault.
