Networking is a great complement to your career and job search. Getting to know people in your field of interest may result in a job prospect that did not exist before you met them.
Meeting people in your field of interest is the single most effective method of finding a job or internship. ACP highly recommends you take networking methods and ideas seriously as they can significantly improve your employment opportunities.
Professionals also make contacts via social network sites. It is a good idea to begin networking by setting using these outlets (such as LinkedIn). This will help you keep track of contacts, find potential employers, and learn about industries from those employed in them. LinkedIn’s site can be found here.
A network of professional connections can be useful both in your job search and throughout your career for:
- Exploring careers.
- Identifying resources for informational interviews.
- Obtaining information about an organization for which you might want to work.
- Getting career advice - ask people in the civilian sector about how you might prepare yourself for a certain field or position.
- Finding ways to create your own job or internship.
- Meeting people in your field of interest is the single most effective method of finding a job or internship.
