One night, I was working and one of my coworkers had graduated a few years back with a degree similar to mine. She told me to start networking now since it's hard to move up in healthcare. She advised me to consider getting a membership to an organization associated with the field I wanted and attend their meetings. She also suggested looking into internships if I had time. Nowadays, everything is competitive whether it's school or in the workforce.
While schooling can be important to further your career, it's not all that's needed. Networking in today's world is the most vital thing to land your dream job. Employers want to see students out of school with experience, as hard as that may be. They want to see the commitment a student may have to other organizations or associations in their own. Employers want to know that students have not only the knowledge but hands-on experience in the field that universities can't give us.
Joining associations, working internships, attending events is more beneficial than a 4.0 GPA. Your degree is going to be the same as mine. Now, I'm not knocking anyone who has worked hard for their grades. Some students do need good grades to get into graduate school, but without any networking, getting into graduate school can be that much more difficult, which is why students need have something to set them apart.
There are several ways you're able to build experience, as well as a resume, to increase your networking skills. One of the most common is getting internships. Many colleges have departments that help undergrad students find an internship. It also wouldn't help to ask your professors if they have any colleagues looking for an internship. While they may be unpaid, it could lead to a future job from that employer. If not, hopefully, it leads to a good letter of recommendation. Another way to continue networking is joining an association within the workforce. Often times, these associations have a small membership fee for students and a whole lot of opportunities. These opportunities can be helpful when it comes to licensing, meeting employers at events, and finding internships.
