Utilizing Networks
How might you encourage students to utilize their personal and professional network to find a job?
With Social media today, it's a lot easier to get the word out that you are loooking. Very easy to reach a lot of people with one post. I just don't think our students realize how many people they have in their network that might know someone else. I think we jsut look at our network and say I don't know anyone that could help me instead of just putting ourselves out there with our network and seeing if they might know of someone.
I like both of your comments and agree that sometimes people can be scared or nervous about networking. Having practice networking sessions or being able to have a go to elevator speech prepared can really help calm a lot of nerves.
One thing that we recently did was have a networking fair. This was just for students and graduates and we invited one employer. We opened the event like a regular meet and greet for a chamber meeting and just went around the room for 15 seconds a peice and introduced everyone and then let everyone loose. Was really great to see students of different programs network with each other and get to know each other.
We currently have two courses devoted to this, one is Career Management and the other is part of the Portfolio Presentation (Graphic Design Program). Career Management helps them prepare there resume, cover letter and follow-up correspondence and provides them with mock interview opportunities. In the Portfolio Presentation course the textbook is focused on preparing the portfolio to get the job and walks the student through the job seeking process. Student find it very helpful.
I am taking this course to see if I can make this process of learning more experiential. I am finding it helpful.
Viola,
Again, you seem to be well versed in all things career prep!
Elizabeth Kemler
Definitely by letting everyone know that they are actively looking for a job in their field. I would suggest using LinkedIn or even Facebook to express their interest and availability for work in a specific field. On LinkedIn it is a good idea to join groups that are field related. Attending mixers and events are a great method of extending ones reach beyond people they already know.
Sheila,
Good advice; you really never know who can help connect you with a good opportunity and for many people it's easier to make these kinds of inquiries of people they already know and/or in more familiar and comfortable settings.
Elizabeth Kemler
Sheila,
I agree on job fairs absolutely; in addition to giving students a chance to see what's out there and meet potential employers, it also offers them the chance to practice their communication skills. Do you ever go as a class?
Elizabeth Kemler
I personally think job fairs are a great networking opportunity. I strongly encourage all our students to attend job fairs on their own and if I am aware of any upcoming job fairs...I post it in our classroom. The students need to take make this a priority whenever possible.
I feel very strongly from the first time a student enters into the classroom....she or he should start their networking. I am a huge proponent of using your church, family, friends, co-workers as tools and inform them you in school and what you are going to school for. I also strongly suggest for them to do a internship whenever possible.
Judi,
The first thing I would recommend is working with what you have, by which I mean not trying to change these people; I know from experience that when people are extremely uncomfortable engaging in that way, trying to force it doesn't work. That said, I think it makes good to sense to have them make the most of their online connections via social media (Linkedin, Facebook, etc.) and email--reminding them that there are many people out there who are uncomfortable with face-to-face networking and utilize the internet instead. Also, have you done any group outings to job fairs, or perhaps had a job search support group kind of thing? Interested to hear about some of the other things that you've tried.
Elizabeth Kemler
My biggest challenge is working with minority groups of people who do not want to mix with others or talk to people. Their attitude is, I don't have friends and I don't talk to people. This makes it hard to motivate them to network and talk with people in their every day life. I spend a lot of time trying to remind them of those relatives and friends who work in the medical field who could help with job leads. Often times I feel like I am more of a motivator and cheer leader saying the same things over and over.
Sheri,
This is sound advice; the prospect of networking can be daunting for many people but approaching it in this more casual way is less so, and just as effective.
Elizabeth Kemler
I encourage my students to have a conversation with everyone they meet. They should not think of it as looking for a job, because this frightens them. I tell them to casually talk to everyone and mention that they are in school or just graduated and let them know what they are studying. The main idea is to have a passionate conversation, so the other person can get as excited as the student is. Often the other individual will offer helpful advice, " call John at X Company, he is a friend of mine", or I heard that ABC Medical Center is hiring".
Christina,
Do you have potential employers and/or working graduates come to your school to speak to the students? Do you take students to job fairs, etc?
Elizabeth Kemler
I encourage students to speak to employers
Octavia,
This is good advice to be sure; the challenge is ensuring that students have the necessary tools and confidence to network effectively. What kinds of things do you do?
Elizabeth Kemler
As we learned, sometimes it is not "who you know" but it is "who you know" happens to know somebody that can be a prospective employer. We should encourage our students to network with family members, friends and acquaintances so they feel more comfortable on their search.
Jo-Anna,
Yes absolutely. How many role plays do you typically do? Do you use different scenarios?
Elizabeth Kemler
