Networking Beyond Your Graduation
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1. Graduates often make mistakes when looking for employment after graduation by not properly networking throughout their university experience and maintaining connections. 2. Key mistakes include not keeping track of campus contacts, being vague about what type of job or industry they are looking for, and having rigid career plans rather than being flexible. 3. The article provides tips for avoiding these mistakes such as taking a networking audit, clearly communicating your job search details and needs to contacts, being open to flexible or temporary work, and helping other graduates find jobs to benefit from the law of reciprocity.
Networking Beyond Your Graduation
- 1. other side up BUSINESS IDEAS FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE Networking beyond low expectations, you have a long wait ahead. Getting your graduation a toe in the door of your preferred employer with a part time or project based N role allows them to see how BY ROBYN HENDERSON CSP good you are. Be prepared E 5 biggest mistakes graduates make when looking for to work at one role and employment! build your networks within T the organisation so that Congratulations! You graduated with high grades, had a great social life whilst attending university, made lots once you have proved your worth, you will be in W of friends, some who will be lifelong connections. Even managed to save money juggling your part time job. But a great position to apply for other roles within your O now the prospect of securing a permanent job in a tight marketplace is not looking optimistic. master plan. R Graduates who make the mistake of rigidly stick to their Let’s look at ways of increasing your chances of getting a job with your employer of choice. inflexible career plans often spend months, even years, K looking for work. Yes, you will hear the phrase, “you are 1. Take a networking audit way too qualified for this role”, so prepare a response that you believe will be acceptable to your potential I The biggest mistake graduates make is not keeping track of their campus contacts. Smart networkers employer. N 4. Ask for help before you need it... start building their connections from Day 1 of attending university, never knowing who they can help or who can Possibly this article has been forwarded to you by G help them. They build their networks before they need someone who knows you will be looking for work in them. The bigger picture is, you have spent three or more the future—fantastic—you won’t make the mistakes. years with a large group of people studying a variety of However, if you are spending hours online looking for subjects at the same campus. Obviously some of your work and not getting anywhere, make a list of people connections will be stronger than others; your network you respect and whom you consider to be industry expands by the potential size of the campus, but only if experts. These may include your lecturers, campus staff you bother to make an effort to meet people along the members, current students active in alumni activity, way. It’s not too late. Take time today to list the number of social or special interest groups—people who you believe people in your network—regardless of whether you think know about the industries where you are seeking work. they have contacts in the industries or professions you Allocate a few days when you could meet with them or want to work in. Make sure your details are correct on set up a time for a phone call with them. Don’t make the the alumni listings. mistake of being unprepared for this call. Email the 2–3 questions that you would like answers to. Their time is 2. Tell people what you are looking for valuable; don’t waste it. Be clear on what you want. BE pro-active with your job 5. Find work for someone else search. Don’t waste people’s time with a vague “I want a job!” Be specific: “I am looking for a graduate position in The Universal Law of Reciprocity is one of three laws the banking and finance area; I know there is a freeze on forming the basis of networking; what you give out comes hiring with some organisations, but I would like to make back tenfold. If you want a job find a job for someone else. contact before the freeze is listed. Do you know anyone When you are studying the current jobs available on-line who works for XYZ or SSS (mentioning your employer of keep an eye out for one for another graduate mate of choice)?” yours, whose needs are slightly different. If you miss out on a job, tell a mate about it. You might not be the ideal There are so many different ways of reaching your candidate but they might be the one. contacts today: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, text messaging, emailing, phone calls and even the good old Information is gold but only when you share it. And the best letter. Match your communication with the communication networkers are those who regularly share information, style preferred by your connection. Often messages ideas, leads and help others with their needs. They know go unanswered because they are in the wrong format. in their hearts that networking can open any door in the Obviously the above message will need to be shortened world for them once they are clear on what they want and to suit the social media format, but the principle still make it easy for people to help them. applies: be clear on what you want. All the best with the job search. And when you meet 3. Be prepared to be flexible current students at your campus encourage them to network BEFORE they need to. Have a master plan! This doesn’t mean planning the next 50 years, but it does mean at least the next three to five years. Permanent full time work in some professions is a distant memory. Job share situations, 2-3 day contracts, ROBYN HENDERSON seasonal high volume work followed by months of For more articles by Robyn Henderson, visit nothing, weekend work without penalty clauses—is www.networkingtowin.com.au potentially what the employment landscape will look like Email: robyn@networkingtowin.com.au in the future. If you are adamant that you want a Monday to Friday, 9–5 role, with parking provided, high salary, Ph: 07 55230123 Fax 07 55230153 This material is copyright—please copy it right when you pass it on!