What are you doing over the break?

If you’ve done any research at all on finding a job, you’ve come across the word, networking.  Do you have a plan in mind for how you will network? Do you realize that you’ve probably done it more times that you can count? 

Consider the following:  you’re at your friend’s house for dinner, and, while you’re passing the bread to her dad, he asks what you’re studying.  You reply that your major is advertising and that you’re hoping to get an internship for the summer.   The following week, your friend says that her dad met someone who works for an ad firm and they need a summer intern.  

You used networking to secure that job lead!   Good for you for adding that bit about looking for a summer internship.   You may have considered it meaningless small talk, but, that’s the comment that made your friend’s dad think of you when he met the person from the ad firm.

Stop and think about all the conversations you’re likely to have during the holiday break.  Will there be opportunities to let relatives, neighbors, family friends, etc. know what kind of job you’re seeking? (Hint: the answer is YES!) Take the opportunity to let them know what kind of job you’re looking for and ask them to keep you in mind if they learn of anything.   This conversation does not have to be formal—it can be as easy and natural as asking someone if they plan to watch any bowl games.

If you know what you want in a job or internship and you can prepare a brief, conversational statement to that effect, you will be ready to network through holiday parties, dinners, shopping trips, and, of course, bus or plane rides to Pasadena.