If you want to build a new career, it鈥檚 never too early to start building your network. Even if you are still in school, learning the skills of your new profession, it鈥檚 time to start networking. Here are 5 steps you can take right now to get started:
1. Utilize聽Career Services.听Does your school have a career services department? At ANU, we can help you prepare to make successful networking connections and advise you regarding how to build your professional network while you are still in school. Take advantage of resources to help you build your portfolio and prepare for your career. Find professional groups, internships, volunteer opportunities, and part-time jobs. Learn how to create your 鈥渆levator pitch鈥� to best summarize your skills to someone who might be able to help you land a position. We鈥檒l work with you to make sure your resume and cover letter represent what you鈥檒l bring to your future employer. We鈥檒l give you personalized career advice and even conduct mock interviews so you鈥檙e ready for your next job interview.
鈥淲hen I think about my own career,
I owe every job I鈥檝e ever had to networking.”
-Tom Farley, president of the NYSE1
2. Connect with your instructors.聽Your聽instructors are professionals from the field聽you鈥檙e hoping to enter. Take advantage of all they can teach you about what happens outside of the classroom? Don鈥檛 miss an opportunity to find out what鈥攁nd who鈥攖hey know. They could help you connect with externships and people from your new profession. Impress them with your hard work while in school and they鈥檒l be happy to make you a part of their network.
3. Build relationships with your classmates.听Your classmates will soon be your colleagues. Demonstrate that you鈥檙e serious about all you鈥檙e learning and the direction you鈥檙e heading. They may be able to link you to opportunities and jobs. They may even be in a position to hire you someday. Or maybe you鈥檒l be the one in charge looking for the right employees among your former classmates.
鈥淎s you build your professional connections, networking can happen in unusual yet ordinary ways and places…
Be prepared to engage with people you know and don鈥檛 know. You might be sitting beside or standing in line with the person that could link you to your career opportunity.鈥�
–聽Shonny K. Cooke, Executive Director,聽ANU Career Support Services
4. Attend networking events.聽Job fairs aren鈥檛 just great places to look for a job in your new career; they鈥檙e also great opportunities to get to know others in your industry. Also look into events held by clubs and organizations specific to your industry. The more you鈥檙e able to practice your interpersonal skills, the more comfortable networking will become to you.
5. Get on LinkedIn.聽LinkedIn is a professional networking platform that lets you connect with others in your industry. By displaying skills and experience on the site, employers can find you. You can reach out to people you know on LinkedIn and also connect to the people they know. The potential is limitless!
Are you ready for your new career? Then, it鈥檚 time to start networking. If you鈥檙e already a student at ANU, contact聽Career Services聽for further techniques and tips for effective networking. If you鈥檙e still deciding on what your new career will be, check out all of our聽programs聽in Business, Health Sciences and Information Technology. We鈥檒l provide you with the in-demand career skills you鈥檒l need for your new career.
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