Going beyond the handshake to launch a career

In an increasingly competitive job market, young professionals are turning to the resources of networking, and Career Services is showing them how to do it.

Yesterday afternoon, a small crowd gathered in the living room of Civic House in order to discuss the art of networking, in an event sponsored by Career Services entitled "Beyond the Handshake - Launching a Career in the Public Interest Sector." Led by associate director of Career Services Kelly Cleary and associate director of Civic House Suzanne Lyons, the discussion outlined a six-step plan to show students how to best utilize one's network.

Networking, Cleary said, is about "gathering information and increasing visibility." To do this, informational interviews allow those free for hire to get their feet in the door of an organization without the pressure of a formal interview. Such networking is a formal process which demands all the customary conventions of professional decorum.

More informally, both Lyons and Cleary touted the worth of networking Web sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. Such sites can help a candidate reach out to prospective employers in an extremely expeditious manner which is ever useful to busy graduate students forced to balance classwork with job search.

Regardless of the type of networking one engages in, however, both Cleary and Lyons highlighted the importance of having goals, being prepared and following up in a professional manner. Such behavior will "make it easy for [employers] to see why you are a good fit for the position," Cleary stated.

In terms of following up, for example, both moderators underscored the vast importance of a quick thank-you note after an interview or an introductory e-mail to a reference mentioned during the interview.

According to Lyons, establishing a solid network today can "benefit people for the rest of their lives" as the world becomes increasingly interconnected.

To do so, one must develop "relationships with people" which, rather than being "a one-time thing" is a continual process of give-and-take, Cleary said.

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