Networking To Find A Job
If you only use one method when searching for a job, it should be networking. Ask your family, friends and people you’ve worked with if they know someone that does what you’re interested in. Contact your college’s career center and alumni office and ask if they know someone you could talk to about your desired career path. The most useful advice I got when searching for an entry-level job was that you should ask each person you talk to if they know three other people that would be willing to talk to you as well. This allows your network to continue to grow.
The focus of each conversation you have with someone should be about that person’s experience - how they became interested in what they do, how they got there and what they wish they had done differently. Share your interests with them and see what types of positions they’d recommend for you. Focus on learning more about the profession you’re interested in and possibly uncovering options you haven’t thought of yet.
At the end of each conversation, ask the person if their office hires college graduates and if there is someone you could talk to about open positions or internships. Remember that your main goals for each conversation should to learn something from the person and to get contact information for other people that you could talk to about your desired career path. Do not put too much emphasis on the fact that you are looking for a job. If their office is looking to hire a college graduate, they will most likely tell you without you asking them.
