How Student-Athletes Can Use AI to Network and Land Their Dream Job
As student-athletes, balancing the demands of school, sports, and personal life is no easy feat. When it comes to preparing for your future career, networking is an essential skill. The good news? AI tools are here to make the process more efficient and help you connect with the right people in your desired field. Here’s how you can use AI to enhance your networking efforts and build valuable connections.
Finding the Right People to Network With
When looking to network, finding the right individuals who can help you advance in your career can be daunting. AI tools can help simplify this process by identifying professionals in your field of interest or at companies you want to target. For instance, AI can quickly scan LinkedIn profiles and business directories, pulling up the right contacts and their email addresses. This allows you to focus your efforts on meaningful connections rather than wasting time on cold leads.
Matt Landau, CEO of AI job search platform Swooped, advises against reaching out to recruiters directly, as they are often overwhelmed with requests. Instead, AI can guide you to individuals in roles that align with your interests and expertise, ensuring your outreach is targeted.
Let AI Handle the Repetitive Tasks
Student-athletes are no strangers to managing multiple priorities. The same goes for networking—personalizing each outreach message can be time-consuming. AI can help by automating tasks such as creating lists of potential contacts, drafting emails, and providing templates for LinkedIn messages. By delegating these tasks to AI, you free up time to focus on other aspects of your career development, like preparing for interviews or refining your resume.
Sarah Felice, a career coach at Prima Careers, suggests using AI as a “personal assistant” in your job search. It can streamline the initial stages of networking, but the key to success is making sure you personalize your outreach once AI has set the foundation.
Personalize AI-Generated Messages
While AI can draft messages and emails, they’re often not enough to build a genuine connection. It’s crucial to add your personal touch before hitting send. Networking expert Jan Tegze stresses that sending generic messages, like “Hey, I’m interested in this role, please take a look at my resume,” is unlikely to spark interest. Instead, customize your message by including relevant details such as why you would be a good fit for the role or how your experiences as a student-athlete have prepared you for the job.
Jonathan Javier, CEO of Wonsulting, recommends using AI-generated tools that prompt you to add your own information. This can help ensure that your message stands out and feels authentic. Remember, networking is about building relationships, not just sending out as many messages as possible.
AI Can Help, But Real Connections Matter
While AI is a powerful tool to kickstart your networking efforts, the most valuable part of the process comes from human connection. Once you’ve used AI to connect with professionals in your field, it’s time to take the conversation to the next level. Engage in informational interviews, ask about their experiences, and seek advice about the industry. These personal interactions will help you stand out from the competition and build a network that goes beyond automated emails.
“People help you because they believe you’re genuine and worth helping, not because your message was perfectly written,” says Tegze. AI can’t replace that authenticity, and building trust with others is a key part of effective networking.
Understanding AI’s Limits
AI can help you quickly find relevant people, automate repetitive tasks, and draft messages, but it cannot replace the personal touch that makes networking so impactful. As AI technology continues to evolve, it’s important to remember that while it can be a valuable tool, the real connections you make will come from your effort, sincerity, and willingness to engage with others on a personal level.
By understanding how to effectively use AI for networking and combining it with your own personality and authenticity, you can enhance your job search and create meaningful relationships that will help you succeed in both athletics and your future career.