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The U.S. Department of Labor says that 48% of people find
their jobs through referrals or word of mouth. In short,
networking is the single most effective strategy for landing
the job you want. Getting a job by knowing the right person
seems like having an unfair advantage over the millions
of job seekers who respond to classified ads, post their
resumes online, and cold call companies. On the other hand,
everybody else is already playing the networking game. One
of the best networking strategies is to start building up
your connections early in your career.
Why network in college?
If you’re in school now, you might not want to enter
the workforce full-time, or you may not be qualified for
your ideal position until you’ve got the degree in
your hands. But networking in college is one of the best
ways to get close to the people who can help you down the
road.
Think about it this way. By showing up on time, participating
in class, being a reliable team member on group projects,
and sharing notes with students who are out sick, you’re
already demonstrating skills that will make you a superb
employee. All those people you meet in your major classes
are going to go out into the world seeking similar careers,
some before you graduate, and some after.
Once you’re out of school, your former classmates
will become your competition for entry-level jobs. That’s
why making friends and playing nice has its advantages.
Networking in college means that your peers who find employment
first can point you toward companies who are hiring and
even recommend you to their own companies when positions
become available.
Keep in touch with classmates.
One key to successful college networking is keeping in
touch after graduation. If you’re not super-chummy,
use email, Facebook, and Twitter to keep your contacts in
the loop. Asking for advice, introductions, and recommendations
goes over much better when you’re already in regular
communication.
Another key to successfully networking in college is to
be receptive to other people’s attempts to network
with you. As much as you hope to use your contacts to get
ahead professionally, others will ask the same of you. When
others feel your networking is a one-way street, you might
find yourself out of luck as a recipient. Make sure you
give as much as you get and pass along leads that you can’t
use.
Stay on your professors’ radar.
Networking with your peers in college is a great first
step, but don’t ignore the invaluable professional
references your professors can provide. Often, professors
are people who have workplace experience in their subject
area or know professionals in the field. Keeping in touch
with them puts another weapon in your job search arsenal.
The key to networking with college professors is to be memorable.
Professors want all their students to do well, but most
of them disappear after graduation. Be the kind of student
who works hard in class to win their respect, asks for help
when needed, and isn’t afraid to visit during office
hours. Become a successful networker by requesting different
types of letters of recommendation from them, writing thank
you notes when they assist you, and occasionally sending
emails to let them know how you’re doing.
Students who impress professors not only get career advice,
but can also get specific advice about which companies or
hiring managers to target. When a professor tells you to
let the hiring manager know that she recommended you get
in touch, that’s the sound of a previously closed
door inching open because of your networking skills.
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