Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Does Who You Know, Know You?

Everyone has heard the saying, “It’s all about who you know.” In the world of social media, it is becoming increasingly easy to network with major industry professionals at the click of a mouse. The saying still holds true, however, it is still difficult to get that exclusive job interview without doing research and meeting new people. The good news is that networking is your best bet to getting your foot in the door.

Networking is extremely easy and can happen without you even realizing it! It’s like a party where everyone gets to mingle and sell themselves. Unless you are a hermit living under a rock, chances are you know other people, and it is this web of connections and knowledge that is the key to successful networking and finding that all important job.

Here at Career Services, we strive to give Brock students an advantage when it comes to meeting industry professionals in your field. A great way to network would be to attend our annual Career & Post-Graduate Expo in November where over 100 educational institutions, non-profit organizations and employers come on-campus to recruit the best and brightest Brock has to offer. This is a great opportunity for everyone to see who is hiring and get insider information regarding what to expect in the workplace and how to apply.

Information Interviews are also a great way to meet people doing what you want to do and get the info you need to get there. An information interview is like a regular interview; the only difference is that you are the one asking the questions. It is not uncommon for unclaimed internal positions to be advertised and offered to outsiders who have shown interest, so keep that in mind!

Career Services also holds Employer Showcases and Information Sessions throughout the year that gives students a chance to talk to representatives one-on-one about the benefits of working for them. Make sure to check the Career Services events widget for when an employer will be on campus.

For more information on networking, check out this article on, “How to Mingle with Strangers at Parties”.
Happy networking!

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