All About Career Connections

The Trinity Western Perspective on Career Connections

Career connections are part of formation, not an extra strategy

At Trinity Western University, career connections are not just for confident students who already know what they want. They are a core part of how all students learn, grow, and move toward meaningful work. The key idea is this: career connections are not about asking for jobs — they are about learning, belonging, and finding direction.

Careers are human before they are systems

Even in a world shaped by AI and digital hiring, careers are still deeply human. People create opportunities, recommend others, and open doors that technology alone cannot. Many students want the process to feel personal and relational — not cold or transactional. Career connections make space for that. They give you the chance to be known beyond your résumé, ask real questions, and learn what people actually do in their work.

Why students often avoid connection

We get it. "Just apply online" is often treated as the main path, and the word "networking" can feel formal and uncomfortable. Students worry about saying the wrong thing or not knowing enough. These feelings are normal — and our approach is built to help you work through them.

A different way to understand connection

At TWU, connection is built on curiosity, learning, and respect — not performance or extroversion. You do not need a formal event to connect. It happens all around you:

• classrooms and residence halls
• student clubs, teams, and faculty conversations
• campus events and employer visits
• alumni relationships and mentorship

Connection builds on everything that came before

Career connections do not stand alone — they grow out of exploration and readiness:

• Exploration creates curiosity
• Readiness builds confidence and clarity
• Connection creates momentum and opportunity

Every conversation helps you get clearer on your direction, understand work better, and tell your own story more confidently.

• Video: Networking Better: It’s Building Relationships – With Alumnus Joel Hansen 
• Alumni Story: Author & TWU Alumnus Peter Reek on Hope and Defining Calling in Midlife 

The labour market is not fully visible

Not all job opportunities are posted online. Think of it like an iceberg — the visible part is advertised roles, but a much larger portion is hidden beneath the surface. Many positions are filled through referrals, internal moves, and relationship-based hiring. Most students only engage with what is visible. This can lead to sending many applications and hearing very little back. Career connections help you access the part of the market that most students never reach.

Connections are information systems, not shortcuts

Networking is not about getting an unfair advantage. It is one of the best ways to understand how work actually works. Through conversations, you learn how hiring decisions are really made, what employers value beyond job descriptions, and how people actually got into their fields. This kind of information is hard to find any other way.

What research consistently shows

The evidence is clear:

• Referrals significantly increase your chances of getting an interview
• Candidates with internal advocates are more likely to be seriously considered
• Informational interviews build clarity, confidence, and direction
• Networking supports exploration — not just job searching

Connections do not replace applications — but they make your applications stronger.

From networking to relational learning

The old idea of networking was about self-promotion and selling yourself. The newer and more effective approach is about real conversations, learning from others, and building relationships over time. The goal is not to impress — it is to understand and engage. This matters even more now, when applying online can feel invisible and feedback is rare. Connections bring back the human side of a process that can otherwise feel like shouting into a void.

Start with a different mindset

You do not need confidence, a perfect plan, or the right words before you start. You need curiosity, willingness, and a first step. Connection is not something you master before doing — it is something you learn by doing.

Rethink what counts as a connection

Connections are not just strangers at formal events. They already exist around you — classmates, professors, alumni, guest speakers, mentors, and people in clubs and workplaces. If someone is doing work that interests you, that is enough reason to start a conversation.

Start with conversations, not outcomes

The best connections start as learning conversations, not job requests. You are not asking "Can you hire me?" — you are asking "Can I learn from you?" These questions are a great place to start:

• How did you get into this field?
• What does your work actually look like day-to-day?
• What skills matter most in your role?
• What surprised you about this career?
• What would you do differently if you were starting again?

These questions take the pressure off, build your confidence, and make follow-up feel natural.

Use the ecosystem around you

As a student, you are already in a high-access environment. Career fairs, industry insight events, employer information sessions, alumni panels, and student clubs are all spaces where meaningful conversations happen. Many professionals are genuinely open to these conversations — because they remember being where you are. TWU also offers direct support through Career Coaching, the Network Navigator Handbook, LinkedIn Launchpad, and workshops designed to help you practice outreach and follow-up.

Make connection a repeatable habit

The simplest way to build connections is to treat it like any other habit — small, consistent, and low pressure:

• After a class or event, introduce yourself to someone and ask one follow-up question
• When you find someone doing interesting work, send a short message asking for a 20-minute conversation
• After each conversation, write down one thing you learned and one thing to follow up on
• Set a small goal — one new conversation per month — and build from there

You do not need a plan or the perfect words. You just need to start, and then keep going.

LinkedIn as a connection tool

LinkedIn is one of the most practical tools available to you as a student. It lets you reach people you would otherwise never have access to, stay visible to employers, and build a professional presence that grows with you over time.

Start by connecting with people you already know — classmates, professors, and anyone you've met at events or through work. From there, use LinkedIn's search feature to find alumni working in fields that interest you. One particularly useful feature is the alumni search tool, which lets you find TWU graduates working in specific industries or roles — people who already share your background and are often genuinely glad to hear from a current student.

When you reach out, keep it simple: who you are, why you're reaching out, and one specific question. That is enough to start a real conversation.

Make connection a repeatable practice

The simplest way to build connections is to treat them like any other habit — small, consistent, and low pressure. Here's what that looks like in practice:

• After a class or event where someone said something interesting, introduce yourself and ask one follow-up question
• When you come across someone doing work that interests you, send a short message asking if they'd be open to a 20-minute conversation
• After each conversation, jot down one thing you learned and one thing you want to follow up on
• Set a simple goal — one new conversation per month — and build from there

You don't need a plan or the perfect words. You just need to start, and then keep going.