Step 4: Start Networking
Attending events and connecting with professionals will help you find the internship or job you want.
Networking also happens online through LinkedIn.
Make Connections Through Informational Interviews
An informational interview is a short meeting (target the discussion to 15-30 minutes) to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or a company on your “Target Company List”.
Small Talk Strategies
Small Talk is an essential element of successful networking. It can be thought of as a preliminary stage before delving into more substantial conversations such as informational or job interviews.
FAQs – Networking
Wait two weeks and contact again. If after that the person still doesn’t respond, move on to another contact. Be patient for a response and be professional in all correspondence for best results.
On average, every corporate job opening attracts 250 applicants. Since this is an average, it must also be true that for some jobs, there will be more that 250 applicants. Networking can help you to get singled out of the applicant pack to get invited to an interview. Networking is essential in the job hunt. It seems complicated, but really it means talking to others about your job search and career goals. You are not networking to ask for a job. Networking helps you learn information about jobs that are being created, jobs that are “hidden” because they never get posted, and jobs that may not be currently open but will be posted in the future.
Make a list of people who might be able to help answer your job search questions: Friends, family, neighbors, community group members, classmates, teachers, professors, advisors, coaches, alumni plus referrals from other contacts. Start talking to them. Remember you are not asking for a job, you are gathering information about businesses, industries, events, advice, share ideas, and referrals.
A good place to start is LinkedIn groups, local Meetups (meetup.com), events sponsored by professional associations or chamber of commerce, conferences, alumni association meetings, and Handshake.