Answered by Jacob, Hiring Expert at Textron Inc., on Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Networking is one of the most crucial aspects for any Intern, College Student and Professional. During an Internship, it would be extremely wise to carve out time to meet with leaders, business unit managers, and even coworkers across different functions. At the end of the summer, your goal is to not only have completed some type of work/ project but to have different experiences and fundamental understandings of things you enjoy doing and don't enjoy. That is why it is key to meet with individuals across the company you are interning at to learn what goes on in these roles, and see if it something that intrigues you for your future job post graduation. I would not focus on "name recognition" rather learning about how those around you got to where they are today, and what they enjoy most about their roles. If you ask anyone about their "passion", that will open conversation doors. A good idea may be to ask for feedback on current projects which can engage further discussions as you continue to work on different items throughout the internship period. The key is having "genuine conversations" and obtaining new experiences through these networking sessions.