As students are preparing to graduate and move into the “real world,” many wonder how to find a job or internship.Kerrie Bailey, an internship assistant at BYU-Idaho, said the No. 1 way for students to land a job or internship is through networking.

So what is networking? It’s a “process of using currently existing or newly developed acquaintances to help in your job search,” according to the BYU-Idaho Careers Services Web site.

Talking to everyone you know about jobs or internships may not sound too exciting, but it is the quickest and easiest way to find what you’re looking for.

“It’s not about who you know. It’s about who they know,” Bailey said.

Often, the people within your direct contact like family members, friends and neighbors will not have an available job, but they usually know somebody who does. And if they can make a phone call, your chances are even better.

Including former employers, teachers, classmates and church members in your networking contacts will help you land a successful job or internship. Keep in regular contact with these people and ask them to notify you of any openings they hear of.

As you use your network, it will expand and more job opportunities will be presented.