I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “It’s not what you know but who you know”.
Well, what if you know a lot of people, but they don’t have any resources for you. Or they don’t know you very well. (You know the one who says “What’s your name?” EVERY TIME you two meet)
If you have no resources through the people you know, I’ve got some excellent tips for you!
• Seek out those in your field, or those who express characteristics and strengths you wish you had.
• Surround yourself with folks who think like you. Granted y'all won’t agree on all food choices or political ideas, but generally y’all will have similar goals/aspirations for each other.
• You could possibly look for a former boss, professor or orientation counselor.
• Another possibility is finding great support and opportunities through upper classmen who probably know more about the opportunities on campus. Also, your peers and coworkers may have information about something you’re completely clueless about. In my past experience, there’s always been someone in my network from work/school activities who was good at Physics or Chemistry and more than willing to help those who were struggling.
Careerealism.com has a list of the types of people you should keep in your network if you want a job. Not only will this help get your career started, but you can find great internships, part-time jobs, and a variety of opportunities you never thought possible before.
If the people you’ve met before don’t remember you well or at all, you must make yourself memorable. The first time you meet them, you could talk about something you really enjoy doing – let’s say you love to play the piano. If they don’t understand music, express why you love it so much and through your explanation they should be able to sense your passion for the piano. If you feel there’s nothing unique about your hobbies, you could tell them a story pertaining to the event you are attending or how you feel about the event. Next time they meet you, they’ll be less likely to treat it as if it’s the first time y’all have met.
The great thing about an awesome network is you’ll never feel stuck, whether you’ve got a flat on the side of the highway or you don’t know if you have a chance at the job you’ve recently interviewed for.
