Entry by Jennifer Weinmann, Student Employment Consultant for the IUPUI Office of Student Employment in Indianapolis, IN
As a Student Employment Consultant, one of the biggest issues I come across is students who are uncomfortable networking. Whether itâs a part-time position, internship, or full-time position, networking is increasingly the best way to make connections that could land you a position.
If youâre like me, you may not consider yourself an extrovertâŠand that could mean anxiety at the thought of attending a networking event. For those who shy away at the thought of meeting and greeting in a room of strangers, Iâd like to suggest a âbaby stepâ to a public gathering: LinkedIn.com
Many of you may know of the site. For those who are not familiar, the main objective of the site is to bring professionals together and provide an online environment for networking. Best of all, it is fun! Think of it as facebook for the professional world. You can upload a resume, brag about the experiences youâve had, get recommendations from employers or professors, and most important, make connections! These connections can be any professionals you meet or are introduced to in a variety of situations.
For example, you could meet someone in a class presentation, special event, or workshop. At the end of the presentation, simply introduce yourself to the person and have a short sentence prepared such as âThank you for taking the time to present to our class today. It was very interesting to learn more about your area of expertise. â Then, be sure to snag a business card as you say your thank youâs (most professionals will have their business card on hand). This doesnât take much effort and by simply introducing yourself and giving them your name, youâve planted the seed that will make your LinkedIn network grow.
After the event (and as soon after as possible) head to LinkedIn.com and see if your new contact is a member of the site. If they are, you can request to add them to your network and just like that â youâve successfully networked. Before you know it, the contacts youâre connected with will greatly expand.Â
The next step is to put the word out that youâre interested in an internship! You can indicate through your LinkedIn profile that youâre looking for an internship. Everyone youâre connected to will be able to see this information in your status. This could lead to one of your connections contacting you about openings or giving you tips on who to contact within their company to set up an interview. The best way to find an internship or any job for that matter, is to make sure people know youâre looking. Think of the time saved by posting one status update online vs. emailing or calling all the contacts youâve made over time.
Once youâve mastered online networking, youâll be more at ease at face-to-face networking events and your connections will continue to expand!
