7 4 But be sure these interactions are authentic and meaningful. Follow up and be consistent and persistent—that makes the difference. Take any opportunity you can. Prioritize building your networks. It’s important. Networking is highly valuable. It is the central way that people get jobs. 80% of jobs never make it on a hiring platform like Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, or LinkedIn. 80% of jobs get filled because somebody knows somebody who knows somebody. The majority of jobs are found purely based on social connections. Therefore, it is highly relevant and should be an ongoing priority for students. Use social media to your advantage. LinkedIn is what Teicheira calls the future of hiring. It’s a place to build those connections and reach out - because you can. Find the common ground and leverage it. LinkedIn has excellent features that allow you to search your school, then search alumni, input different fields and locations, and add some filters so you can find people who would be relevant connections. Then, use your alma mater as your opener. Say, “I would love to connect with somebody in my field who went to my alma mater.” Boom, you made a connection. It’s also a tool for staying up to date on information changes in your field because the people in your areas of interest are going to be primarily in that information network. This also narrows down the list of people you can contact about internships or job opportunities. Always have a professional introduction prepared & deliver it with confidence. No guaranteed question will be asked in a networking or interview setting, except for the question: tell me about yourself. Always have an answer to that question in your back pocket. Keep your response at around 60 seconds and follow the structure of past, present, and future. Include a bit about your background and what you’ve done work-wise, follow with what you’re currently doing, and finish with what you hope to achieve in the future. When answering, use open posture and positive body language, face them head-on, shake hands firmly, lean in, and make comfortable eye contact. Also, show your personality. Employers need to know who you are. You don’t want to work somewhere that doesn’t appreciate who you are as a person or value what’s special about you. Be relaxed and exude confidence—even if you don’t feel confident on the inside. Confidence is tremendous, and employers want to see prepared students. Have you researched the company or employer beforehand? Being prepared goes hand in hand with confidence. Even if it feels uncomfortable, look yourself in a mirror and practice that professional introduction before you walk into a room. That’s what makes a student shine and get the opportunities from networking because they put in the prep work to set themselves up for success. Find what works for you. Most people struggle with talking about themselves, especially students who tend to be more shy or introverted. It is awkward and uncomfortable, but nothing you should share with a potential employer is not factual information. It is real stuff that you have accomplished, so finding a level of pride in what you have accomplished is valuable in helping it become a bit easier to discuss. In addition, introverted people can sometimes be more successful in these settings. Introverts can give more quality answers because they take a second to reflect and introspec2 3 5 “It’s all about not knowing what could come from an interaction.”
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