Author: Raquel Serrano

5 Networking Mistakes Even the Smartest Students Make

Going to school isn’t just about gaining an education; it’s also about forming professional relationships that’ll help you carve the path to your dream career. From your first year in college to your last, part of your time as a student should revolve around preparing for your career and making sure to use all of the resources at your disposal. Networking is an essential and integral part of your professional development and definitely shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Even the best students make these gaffes, so let’s go ahead, and get your professional network in tip-top shape by discussing the top 5 mistakes students tend to make.

1. Thinking It’s Way Too Early to Start

A common mistake students make is believing that they need to be juniors or seniors before starting to build their professional networks, but like any relationship in life, the more time you invest into it, the stronger it becomes. As early as your freshman year (if not earlier), you should begin forming a career plan and be on the look-out for opportunities to connect with companies and professionals in your industry.

A great way to get started is by joining a professional organization at your school! Industry-minded organizations such as the ACS (American Chemical Society) and the SEA (Student Education Association) have chapters located in colleges all throughout the country. They host networking events of their own all the time, focusing on providing students of all years with valuable knowledge and connections in their fields. Some may require membership dues (as low as $10/year), but the leverage gained really pays for itself.

It is never too early to go out and gain exposure in the professional world. Show up to events, talk to everyone, be honest about where you currently are, express your interest and stay in touch. A conversation you had your freshman year might score you a job upon graduation.

2. Connecting Only With Students in the Same Major

Some of the greatest collaborations and partnerships known throughout the world began between college friends. It’s a commonly overlooked fact, but you might have a potential business partner sitting in your classroom right now. Start talking to some of your peers, and you might find that your career goals align.

Don’t just focus on connecting with students only in your major, though. Strive for compatibilities, not just similarities, so that you create a wider and more diverse network. If you’re a graphic designer with hopes of creating your own magazine and your roommate is an English major and aspiring editor, keep in touch! These are the times to form those relationships that will help carry your career forwards, so hold them close.

3. Speaking to Professors Only About Grades

Your greatest source of support and connections will sometimes come from the very individuals teaching your classes. Your professors are people who have years of experience and are more than willing to share all of that with you (otherwise they wouldn’t be teaching!).

If you have questions or would like recommendations for graduate programs or professional options, send your professors an email or talk to them after class. Set up a time during their office hours to discuss your career path; they can shed a light on any doubts or concerns you might have.

4. Keeping Circles Local

As a student, it may be tempting to keep your contacts within a few miles outside of your own home or college town, but this isn’t a wise move in the professional world. There are plenty of opportunities available to you beyond your town and state, so don’t be shy about branching out. In this age of social media and the internet, it’s easier than ever; companies located miles away are now only an email or tweet away!

Even if you aren’t contemplating relocating after college, keeping your network wide and open will lessen the risk of you missing out on a great opportunity not only within, but also beyond your own backyard.

5. Failing to Stay in Touch

Once you’ve made a connection with someone, it is essential to keep in contact with them over time, or else that connection will fade. Sending people a quick “hello” or tagging them in a relevant article with a note like “This reminds me of your work” keeps the conversation going even years after you’ve last seen each other. You don’t have to maintain in constant communication with them, but do be present and accessible.

Feel free to reach out for advice or an opinion concerning something relevant; just be sure not to ask for too much or make the conversations all about what they can do for you. Don’t worry if they don’t respond right away; recognize that they may be pretty busy, so remember to be patient. If it’s been some time since you’ve met, begin first by reminding them how you know each other, and always be sure to exercise proper social media and email etiquette in order to keep your communication professional.

So, which of these mistakes are you guilty of? The good news is, it’s never too late to fix any of them. Make the most of your life as a student and set yourself up for even greater success with strong connections and contacts. So, be bold and get that network growing!

5 Networking Opportunities You Never Realized You Were Missing Out On

The act of networking can happen in any place, at any time and under just about any circumstance. From big-time events made specifically for this type of relationship building or in the smallest and least typical moments in life, you might find a chance to reach out, shake a hand and potentially cause a chain of reactions which can lead to the career breakthrough or collaboration you’ve always dreamed of.

No matter what the chances are, here are a few opportunities you might have overlooked where genuine and beneficial relationships can be made.

1. Your Current Job 

Let’s say you had to take a server job at a local burger joint or pick up the night shift at your school’s library; no matter what it is you’re currently doing to pay your bills and keep your fridge full, there is a networking opportunity available to you!

There are plenty of supervisors and managers who are willing to connect students who work hard for them with perhaps professional and even personal connections of their own. Even if all you manage to receive is a stellar letter of reference, that will take you one step closer towards potentially fulfilling the career of your dreams. Don’t let the rough shifts and maybe uninteresting tasks fool you otherwise.

2. “Meet & Greet” Events

There are plenty of events hosted by your school and local organizations with the purpose of bringing all kinds of like-minded individuals all under one roof. That’s where you should be, in the panel discussions hosted by your department chair or at the rally where important social issues are being discussed. That is where you are going to find people who have the same passion, whether it’s biological sciences or climate control. Grab a planner and take note of these days lest you miss out on some fantastic “matches!”

3. Your Social Media Networks

Use your social media accounts for more than just sharing memes and commenting on each other’s selfies. There are millions of companies right now in every field and industry in the world waiting to hear from you. Send a tweet to your all-time Wall Street role model or comment on a reporter’s article, asking an important question that shares a fresh point-of-view. Participate in weekly Twitter chats or in Facebook groups, and watch as the right people come along, willing to connect with you and discuss your favorite topics further, leading to the kind of constructive and inspirational relationships your network should be made out of.

4. Daily Commutes

If you take the train or bus (or even walk) to travel around, you are bound to eventually notice familiar faces going in your same direction, especially if you’re doing this multiple days around the same time.

Yes, there’s the age-old belief implanted in us as children of “not talking to strangers”, but come on; these are your co-workers, classmates, neighbors, you name it. Strike up a conversation with them while you’re waiting for a bus or for the street sign to say “walk.” If you’re seeing them frequently enough, chances are they’ve been noticing you too. Get to know your commute buddies better, small moments at a time, and eventually, you just might create a relationship that can carry beyond what would be your typical walk or train ride.

5. Your Local Newspaper Or Blog

This is not an opportunity reserved for just for established writers and editors! There are plenty of college-related publications and blogs that are always looking for the next voice of your generation.

Not only is this a fantastic chance to share your point-of-views with your community and age-group, but you will also find yourself quickly being established as an authority on whatever it is you’re writing about. This can easily lead to readers and fans to remember your name as someone who is driven and in love with a cause or industry, making you a point of contact for anyone seeking to further the conversation or offer you an opportunity to discuss the topic in other venues and forms. Sometimes networking isn’t about who you know, but about who knows you instead.

Remember, networking is all about creating valuable relationships, which can hopefully last a long time and benefit both sides in your quest to live your ideal life. Take any chance you get to talk to someone about your major, your aspirations or what you’re passionate about! Use the unexpected and the overlooked moments in your college life to set up the future you’ve always wanted.

Just Met a Great Professional Contact? Here’s How to Keep the Relationship From Going Cold

There are so many opportunities available for students who want to develop their professional networks that it might almost feel too easy to show up to a networking event or tweet at someone and feel like you’ve made a new contact.

Building these connections, however, takes more than just attending the right events; if ignored, once-valuable contacts can easily fade away as if you’d never met. For students, it is essential to take the right steps in ensuring that a network remains strong, both while in school and beyond.

1. Grab Some Form of Contact Information Upon First Meeting

Before you walk away from the conversation with a new professional contact, whether it’s online or in person, always ask for a business card, an email address, or another online profile where you can connect.

Remember: You want to be able to turn online connections into regular, in-real-life ones, so by having multiple forms of contact, you’re putting yourself in a better spot. Plus, most people are more receptive to one form of communication over others, so figuring out which one that is can be crucial to maintaining a professional relationship.

2. Get in Touch Within 24 Hours of Meeting

A first impression is great, but your second impression is honestly just as valuable. If your connection has handed over his or her information to you, it is now your job to initiate and maintain the conversation.

Do this by sending an email (use our template here!) within a day of having met each other. Remind the person quickly where you met and add a note of what struck you as interesting from your conversation. You don’t want your connection forgetting about you or losing whatever initial interest that might have made you memorable.

This would also be the perfect time to set up an in-person meeting, if that’s possible. Again, it’s important to get those face-to-face interactions if you can help it; if you’re looking for some quick advice, even a Google Hangout or Skype session works!

3. Make Sure to Check in at Least Every Three to Four Months (If Not Sooner)

You definitely don’t need to be checking in every day or week (that’s so much work!), but it’s important to maintain a steady stream of contact with all of your connections. Follow them on social media and interact with their posts by leaving thoughtful and relevant comments. Sending the occasional “how are you?” email is a great way to keep you on their radar.

This is also an essential step to take if you wish to reconnect with old contacts made in previous years, especially earlier in your college career.

Take some time today and get in touch with those connections you may not have talked to in a while, and prepare to keep your network strong. Valuable relationships are tough to come by sometimes, so be sure to cherish and develop them with intention.

What 3 Students Say Surprised Them Most About Work-Study

As a college student, you have plenty of opportunities for employment, federal work-study being one of them. Work-study jobs are positions funded by the U.S. government and offered exclusively to college students for the purpose of providing them with income at a minimal time commitment. It is easily one of the many career resources ignored by students and remains virtually unknown by many.

So what do actual student workers have to say is unique and has shocked them the most about their current jobs? I spoke with three college students to see what they say have been the biggest surprises (and perks) of the federal work-study program.

1. Flexibility in Hours

“The staff was very understanding about my classes and my extracurricular activities. They allowed me to work during the times I wanted to work, and not during the times I couldn’t…I don’t think you could find such a hospitable job anywhere else.” – Benjamin, Highland Community College ‘20

The work-study program was created to help students earn an income while in school, but without taking away time from their studies. If offered funds for this type of job, you’ll have a great amount of control over your schedule. The typical college student will never work more than 20 hours a week, allowing for plenty of time for classes and other activities.

2. Location

“I [don’t] have to go off-campus to work since I live in a dormitory on-campus…I don’t have to use gas and spend gas money to travel off campus. This benefit allows me to save money by walking about 10 minutes to my work-study job.” – Mick, University of Arkansas-Little Rock ‘19

Most work-study positions will take place directly on your college campus. Positions range from working the front desk for the History Department, like Mick, or offering tutoring in math in the evening as I did.

Offices all over campus rely on student workers to assist professors and admins with their day-to-day tasks and big-time research projects even. Minimal amounts of traveling are required, especially for students living in campus residence halls, which makes it a cinch to get to your job (and get there on time.)

3. Supervisors Who Understand Student Life

“It feels like not only they [my supervisor and other staff] care about your studies, but if you do good work for them, the relationship is that much better.” – Ekene, University of Texas-Knoxville ‘18

As school administrators and staff themselves, supervisors remember that you are a student before you are a worker or anything else. They are very familiar with the needs and time constraints you might have and are more than willing to accommodate when assigning workloads and schedules. This way, you can rest assure that you won’t be missing important events or burning out during the semester. Office staff will work with you, helping you to minimize stress as much as possible and keep your main priorities first.

As a student worker myself, I can speak on the benefits of such a great job opportunity. Work-study has its perks and is an offer you should definitely seize if you get the chance to. Just another way the government is able to put some extra cash in your pocket!

5 Extracurriculars for People Who Need Work Experience Now

On the list of phrases college students hate to hear the most, “no work experience” is without a doubt near the top. Although now we understand that being hired right out of college isn’t impossible and having no experience might even work to your advantage, the fact is that without a relevant job or internship to put on your resumé, the job search can feel stressful.

If you’re struggling to figure out which extracurriculars will help you gain work experience in no time, here’s a list of extracurricular activities you can capitalize on for gaining crazy valuable (and rare) skills desired by pretty much every employer.

1. Student Representative in Larger Organizations

While sometimes a bit difficult to find, there are school clubs and groups which are led by professors and staff members but cater to students, and they are always seeking student perspectives. For example, when I served as the student rep at my college for M3S (Minority Mentoring in Math & Science) and WiSM (Women in Mathematics & Science), I participated in panel discussions as the student speaker and provided leaders with input on event titles and services desired by students.

This form of extracurricular activity is taken seriously during the job search. Confident people who know the value behind their experiences and opinions are strong assets to businesses, and employers know that. Show yourself as someone who has a passion for the field, who knows the value of their opinion, comes up with fantastic ideas and who isn’t intimidated or afraid to play with the big dogs.

2. Student Government (or a Different Student-Run Association)

Companies are always looking for great applicants who can represent the company brand, and represent it well. Start practicing what it takes to speak on behalf of a team by being a part of your school’s student government. Both these student-run organizations come together to make important and sometimes critical decisions for a school, but they can’t do it alone. Whether you’re simply a representative for your class year or your residence hall, it will be your job to research the needs and wants of other students, bring them to important meetings with school staff and leaders and then play a part in implementing change!

In a day and age where customer relations is the backbone of most successful businesses, employers are willing to pursue applicants who can demonstrate an ability to see the people, hear the people and most importantly act on their behalf. Let your list of extracurriculars demonstrate just that.

3. Intramural Sports Teams

Intramural sports are considered one of the most popular forms of extracurricular activity, but they’re often underestimated in terms of the value they can add to your professional image.

Teamwork has forever and always been considered one of the most valuable skills sought by employers in the workplace. In addition to teamwork, other skills come into play, including recognizing and focusing on your strengths, delegation, and work-life balance. Sure, having “2016 Intramural Rugby MVP” on your resumé won’t automatically get you hired, but the skills you gained to earn that title just might.

4. Tutoring

Somewhere in your school, someone is looking for help in exactly what you’re majoring in, and that’s good news if you’re looking to gain new skills.

The best tutors are masters of articulation, written and verbal communication, technological competencies (if sessions are done online), active listening, critical and creative thinking and showing the ability to master a skill.

5. Create Your Own

Few things in this world will catch the eye of an employer quite as quick as saying you founded a team, club or student organization during your college tenure.

For instance, I noticed a high demand for academic help with my friends and an underutilized study hall (along with a severe lack of extracurriculars on my resumé), so I started a tutoring program right inside my residence hall, “by residents, for residents”! Here’s another example: My sister wanted to compete in national dance competitions while in school, so she and a friend created a professional Latin dance team.

Seek out a university staff or faculty member who functions in your area of interest. Read up on your school’s guidelines for campus organizations and how to begin one. Even if your first sign-up sheets have to be sheets of loose-leaf paper taped on bathroom mirrors with a pen tied to it (no shame), then so be it. Your future career will regret nothing.

Show employers that when you see a need, you do something about it. Companies always look for people who are great at forming innovative ideas,  who are experienced in methods of recruitment and marketing, who are natural born leaders and managers of both teams and of time, and so much more.

So, what are you waiting for? Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, it is not too early or too late to begin cultivating the skills and experiences for attaining your dream job. Don’t let a lack of industry experience stand in your way any longer. Make your extracurricular experiences count today and say “hello” to your future career!