Undergraduates currently are at an advantage for making connections with possible employers or co-workers. Networking possibilities have hit a peak with the current technology and rapid growth of social media being used as ways to further education and possibilities in the work force. If any undergraduate is unsure how to begin this process, there are a few key steps:
1) Social Media
Twitter: Twitter is the new way to create your personal brand. The short posts allow content sharing to be quick and easy to digest. A few ways you can use Twitter to your advantage is by using hashtags. Hashtags connect posts with similar content, which can be searched. By using hashtags, you are expanding the probability of more viewers and followers.
Facebook: Facebook is an optional semi-professional outlet, but if you don’t want it to be professional, you’re advised to not use your first and last name. By using your first and middle name, you’re allowed a further level of privatization than the settings can allow. On the other hand, if you do want to use Facebook as a professional tool, then start by liking related pages to your profession. By following pages, it allows you to interact with people of the same interests. Facebook is also a great way to market your personality.
Linked-In: Linked-In is the holy grail of social media networking. This website is solely for connecting professionals to mutually benefit each other. The format mimics Facebook with messaging and post options. With Linked-In, there are opportunities to connect with people unlike Facebook or Twitter. There is no personal information to divert the attention to their professionalism.
2) Internships
Internships are competitive and far more beneficial than any class or book will teach you. It is important that you research for an internship that is going to give you a real, work-related experience. Most internships will require busy work to be done in order to benefit your boss, but it is important that you learn what your work Is going towards too.
3) Job Shadow
Too young for an internship you want? Contact someone with your desired profession and ask if you can shadow them for a day. It’s important that you be as flexible as possible with your schedule; it may inconvenience them to have a shadow, depending on work environment.
