Career Corner: Networking–where to get started

Emilio Lorenzo is a career adviser in NSU’s Office of Career Development. His column, a biweekly feature of The Current, provides insights, tricks and tips to help you reach your career goals, market yourself effectively and stay proactive in the job market.

Networking — I am sure many of you have heard the term but have never really considered the meaning behind it. Networking can be defined as “socializing with a purpose.” About 80 percent of the jobs found today come from networking.

One great way for you to start networking with potential employers is by creating a list of potential companies you wish to work or shadow at. Identifying these employers whose values, mission or nature of work in their organization align with your own interests is a strategic way of understanding which individuals you should target for networking opportunities. A great way for you to engage these employers in meaningful conversation is by conducting informational interviews.

An informational interview is a strategic way of gaining valuable information about a profession while networking with employers. Informational interviews can help you stay proactive in the job search and uncover what is called the “hidden job market.” An informational interview can help you focus your job search strategy and clarify your career goals. At the very least, it can give you a new connection to increase your professional network on LinkedIn, a social media site, which, unlike Facebook, was created as an avenue for employers and students to build and maintain long-lasting networking bridges.

If you are a biology student and your long-term goal is to enter a health care program like medical school or dental school, you’re probably hoping to shadow some doctors to gain first-hand observations on the field. The problem with finding shadowing opportunities is that they are rarely just posted on the company’s human resources page. So, by networking with these doctors through informational interviews, you create an avenue for them to get to know you and your passion for the field while gaining valuable knowledge about healthcare as a whole.

The first step is to grab that list you created and use your student status to your advantage when contacting these professionals. Practice your 30-second commercial as you get a hold of a hiring manager or the doctor for the practice within the targeted organization.

Your 30-second commercial should include your name, educational background and reason for wishing to conduct an interview. For example: “Hi, my name is Susie Shark. I am currently working on my bachelor’s in biology at Nova Southeastern University, and I’m interested in gaining more information about the healthcare field and talking with someone who has been in the field for some time. I know you are very busy but would it be possible to sit down with you and pick your brain on your role within the field and current trends in healthcare? I am very passionate about this industry and would love to have a conversation at your availability.”

Before you arrive for the informational interview, fully research the company and its mission statement as well as any research or publications that the employer may have conducted within the last few years. Ask questions to give you a better idea of a typical work day in that field and gain valuable insights as to how to get your foot in the door and develop skills needed in healthcare. This will provide you a chance to have a conversation with someone who can relate to your career journey.

To maximize the benefits in your networking approach, it’s important to end informational interviews with “Thank you for meeting with me this afternoon. If any types of shadowing or volunteering opportunities arise in your office, would it be OK if I leave my professional documents with you?” Informational interviews can be your secret weapon as you develop the foundational knowledge needed for the field and help you meet new connections within the industry.

Another avenue to engage with employers or professionals in your field is attending professional conferences and internship/career fairs. A conference or career fair is a great way to interact and network with professionals, share experiences and put you in position for potential opportunities, as long as you’re prepared, confident and know how to best tackle the experience.

When you attend conferences or other networking opportunities, it’s important to maintain positive body language that will make you more inviting for employers to engage you in conversation. If you’re the type of person who gets fidgety and feels the need to cross your arms or put them behind your back when socializing, you need to utilize other strategies to ensure you’re not showcasing bad body language or negative messages to these employers.

A nice trick of the trade is to keep your arms at your sides, and when you feel that urge to cross them, just gently rub the fingertips of your thumb and middle finger together. This will help you limit that restless feeling without making it noticeable to others. Another great tip is to keep business cards you are receiving in your left pocket and the ones that you are giving out in your right pocket to keep organized and ensure you do not hand someone the wrong business card. LinkedIn can also be a highly useful tool after attending a professional conference, as you can connect with employers you met and continue to strengthen the relationship by sharing articles of interests or engaging in meaningful discussions.

Networking shouldn’t be limited to just professionals in the field as you should also network with individuals are immersed in industry knowledge like faculty. Engaging your faculty in meaningful conversations will not only leave you more well informed about the industry but will also give you someone to support you as you strive to reach your short and long-term goals. Especially early on in your collegiate journey, talking with faculty will help you practice using professional language and engaging in meaningful conversations in your field of study, which will pay dividends as you meet with other employers in the future.

Overall, networking is an important aspect of the job search. Just remember to create a game plan early on and ensure that you are taking all the appropriate steps to market yourself to potential employers or organizations.

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