In the first week of my class it is dedicated solely to social media and the advantages of using it correctly. We make LinkedIn profiles, that way they are able to come in contact with local employers, as well as using the advantages of Facebook and twitter. Also throughout my class i have them apply for 25 jobs online, and 5 out in public, to get them used to marketing themselves in the public. Its all about using soft skills. If you get rid of the nerves and be able to use the soft skills,( Personality and people skills) then i feel like they will have a much easier time, and it has worked for me.
Nicole,
Using our networks is always a good idea; you never know who can point you in the right direction.
Elizabeth Kemler
I encourage the students to use their personal and professional network because it makes the student more marketable, givings them higher advantages than others that are not using the networking skills and giving them more opportunity to be able to find a job that best interests them.
Janice,
I myself have to be constantly reminded of this virtual network..its easy to forget when they're not right in front of you. And the same goes for people you run into over the course of your average day; its always worth making mention of our job search-indeed, you never know!
Elizabeth Kemler
Your words were so true. Everyone today is on some form of network, be it Facebook, Twitter and or Linkedin. All have many connections and contacts that they do not see as potential leads. By showing them how far thier own network expands is such an eye-opener. Just having a simple conversation in a store about thier subject of study can open many doors. It is our responsibility to show the students and point them in the right direction.
Linda,
I like the exercise of making lists of people upon whom the student has made a favorable impression-thats a great place to start.
Elizabeth Kemler
I think this is a great idea and sounds easier to the student than 'networking'. I also have the student make a list of the people that they interact with on a consistent basis during a week. Then we role play any way to just let these people know that they are seeking employment. I also ask them to make a list of family and friends or past coworkers who know who they are and who have a favorable impression of them. We talk about ways to contact these people or participate in functions that would enable them to express that they are seeking employement.
Michelle,
Ha! You are right about that but alas, that's pretty much how its always worked. The idea is to have the recommendations be from people who will speak honestly about your good qualities..because, if they are professional people, their reputations are somewhat on the line.
Elizabeth Kemler
I think I answered the other question...but anyway..it's always best to start with who you know, preferably in your desired field. I would also encourage them to speak to their career counselors or teachers in that field who may have some leads they can recommend. Professional references are great to have but I think a lot of employers feel that they may not be reliable because of course you'd only put down references who like you!
Holly ,
Again, our approach is identical. I like that you encourage students to set up a meeting; talking face to face is always preferable as it gives the student a chance to express more fully what they are looking for in a job, and how they hope to be represented.
Elizabeth Kemler
I would encourage students to first list all of their personal and professional contacts. Then, I would have them carefully evaluate each one and choose those that are most "relevant" to the type of career field they are looking to break into. I would then have them set up a meeting with each of these contacts and discuss their intentions with them. I would also advise them to provide copies of their resumes to these contacts and business cards. This would enable their network representatives to recommend them to potential employers.
Susan,
This is very important advice..its easy to forget that everyone has access to this kind of information.
Elizabeth Kemler
Depending on what industry the student is in, I encourage them to attend events and conferences. For example, the 3d industry usually has a variety of events which occur in various regions. As for social profiles like Facebook, I encourage my students to make those profiles "private" to avoid unknowingly giving a bad first impression to a potential employer. Some of the career studies I've read indicate that a majority of employers now do online searches of candidates. Photos with alcohol, semi-dressed poses, or negative status updates all seem to affect a job-search negatively. I actually provide a list for graduates so they can make their facebook "job search friendly".
I was being a bit facetious with the word 'fear.' When I alert them to the fact that, according to some studies, more than half of all open jobs are not advertised, it leaves using their network as the only means with which to find a job. The fear factor would come from explaining that their job prospects plummet by 50% if they don't use their network.
Dax,
Could you clarify what you mean by using 'fear'?
It sounds like you're using a very effective means to demonstrate the importance of networking. I always find it helps to use examples/analogies like this.
Elizabeth Kemler
In addition to using fear (some 50% of jobs are not advertised, and thus you have to talk to people), I also create a scenario with the students. I set it up, asking them to imagine that they are to choose between two qualified candidates. They have never met either of the candidates, but one of them comes recommended from a business acquaintance. The students almost always say they would hire the candidate who knows someone they know; they claim that if they trust their acquaintance, and their acquaintance trusts this candidate, they can also trust the candidate. I then explain that the "real world" works just like this. If they, the students, can get introductions to hiring managers from a friend, their job search will be much more successful.
Stephen,
This is a great approach. You are clearly steering your students in the right direction. We don't need to portray networking as a difficult or inauthentic thing, it really is as simple and easy as striking up that conversation at the grocery store.
Elizabeth Kemler
I think the one thing that helps me is that I have found 3 of my 4 jobs I have had in my lifetime through networking. Having a background in sales as well as Career Services I know that you can sell what you believe in.
That being said, I encourage my Medical students/graduates to go connect with a neighbor that comes home in scrubs each night or strike up a conversation at the grocery store with someone that might be in the field. I have my Technology students/graduates strike up conversations with people at LAN parties or repairmen that come in to fix something for them. I try to convey that you can "network" anywhere and at any time. With any of the students/graduates I always encourage them to let family and friends know that they are looking for an opportunity to get started in their field, and to be specific about what they want so the family and friends have an idea and won't be wasting their time talking to people about jobs that won't relate.
Like so many others in our field I have started having them use Facebook, Linkedin and other Social sites to network with a lot more people in their respective fields. I still encourage face to face meetings when possible after that connection to keep their personal skills honed.
Lynn
I have found both of these to be very useful resources, and the job club is a great idea.
Please forgive the delayed response to your post, it only just came to my inbox.
I encourage my students to join Linkedin and also FaceBook. We have developed a job club and invite local businesses to attend and present information about their company. Job Fairs are another opportunity to network.
