The
top piece of advice I have gotten from mentors, bosses, and teachers is that
networking and maintaining relationships with potential employers is the best
way to find a job.
It
is common sense really. If you know someone who is within a related field to your own, he/she
is more likely to think of your name first when it comes to fulfilling a
position. But how do you become a good networker?
There
are many opportunities for networking, both online and in-person.
As
we live in a digital world, an online presence is very important.
LinkedIn is a
great place to present yourself professionally, as well connect with potential
employers and mentors.
How do you go about creating a strong LinkedIn account?
Try to think of your LinkedIn account as an elaborate version
of your resume.
There are several things you are almost always going to want to include:
- Your name with a headline about what you are currently doing and what you are seeking (think of it as a professional slogan).
- A headshot of yourself wearing professional clothes, doesn’t have other people in it, and is high-quality.
- Education that reflects the degree you are pursuing/have attained, what school you are attending/attended, any minors you have, honors, awards, a competitive GPA, and other relevant academic information.
- A professional summary that explains more in-depth information about what you are doing and what you would like to be doing. These brief paragraphs qualify your skills and goals for the future.
- Work experience that includes a position title, company name, location, dates of employment, and a description about technical skills you picked up and/or major projects you participate in within this job.
- Any other Skills or projects you have participated in that gave you technical abilities. This could include class projects, skills you picked up on your own time. Be sure to include the most relevant information you can about your professional experiences.
- Be sure to include your contact information and the best way to reach you by.
- LinkedIn also has a space to mention your interests, and birthday. Definitely utilize those sections to talk about your extracurricular activities, school clubs, and any hobbies you have.
- Obviously these aren’t the most professional parts, so don’t exhaust this section. However, it can be a great way to really personalize your LinkedIn account.
For more
information on tips for students developing a LinkedIn account, check out this
site: https://university.linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students
What about networking outside of LinkedIn?
Career Services
has some great tips on the importance of networking. To read about the
different types and why it is so essential, check out this site: https://www.career.vt.edu/JobSearchGuide/Networking.html
In short, here are some things to know about networking:
- It begins with just talking to people. Talk to: Professors, colleagues, neighbors, bosses, and life mentors, parents’ friends…
- People in your major are probably going to be the most relevant people to talk to in networking situations. Be sure to foster relationships with the people you respect in your field.
- Maintaining these relationships with those you meet in your field, your major, or your jobs is the most effective way to network. Not only have you made initial contact, but the people you are networking with can speak on behalf of your skills.
- Networking should be so common to you that you no longer necessarily think of it as networking…you should think of it as connecting with people and maintaining relationships.
- Forbes is an excellent resource for professional advice.
- Check out this article to learn about the 8 ways to network correctly: http://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2014/07/28/how-to-network-the-right-way-eight-tips/
Always remember
in your networking goals to maintain a professional appearance, make contact
often, and be open to new opportunities.
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