by Stephanie Mater
6. April 2010 11:49
As a college student looking for a job or internship, the search is miserable. The only job hunting we have down was for a summer job at the pool or a local retail store–not exactly the most challenging since these places are always looking to hire. The search for a “grown-up” job seems like a free for all. University career centers claim to offer help, but many only help with a few select companies or majors. Then if you want to work in a city more than 100 miles from your school, the career center is no help. Your professors are hardly any help either.
My tip for college students: NETWORK
College students do not realize how large their network actually is. Many students take some advantage of their parents’ networks, but often find it uncomfortable to converse with their parents’ friends in a professional manner.
But college students also have their own professional network. Their networks include friends who have graduated, professors, speakers to organizations, companies they have worked with in class, and previous employers.
Here are some places to find people who may have a job just waiting for you.
• Social Networking Sites
o Facebook: Do you have 10 friends? 100 friends? 1000 friends? Maybe you haven’t talked to all of them in awhile, but each is doing something with their lives. Find out what it is. Your paths may not have crossed recently, but they might be parallel.
o LinkedIn: Obviously a source of professional contacts. You can easily find out every job someone has had and what other companies they are connected to.
o Twitter: Post that you are looking for a job in a specific industry. People are listening to your thoughts. Make them worthwhile. Share job search strategies or industry thoughts.
o Brazen Careerist: You can join professional and social networks. Again, post that you are looking for a job. Include your major, college, hometown, whatever. These things will catch someone’s eye.
• College/University
o Professors: Professors have helped students get jobs for years. They have contacts at all kinds of companies. But you need to have built a relationship with your professor throughout college. Don’t seek out a professor you haven’t seen since freshman year expecting them to have a job waiting for you.
o Friends: Whether your friends have already graduated and are working full-time or had an internship last summer, they probably know something about the job you are looking for.
• Family: Talk to your parents’ friends. It will be awkward. But it will give you a chance to practice being a business professional before you actually have to be.