Professional skills are essential for you to have in order for you to craft a thoughtful career path in line with your aspirations, needs and passions. You need to develop these skills while you are at college in order to make a smooth transition from college to work life.
Professional Networking
One of the key skills you will need to enter into the career market is ‘networking’. Networking refers to utilizing and building relationships to explore and avail career opportunities. It helps you tap into the “hidden job market”. Professional Networking can serve as a valuable strategy at all stages of your career journey. Professional networking has been identified as one of the most effective job search techniques.
It is essential to remember that networking is not asking for a job. It is about developing relationships with people in order to achieve career goals. It is an on-going process which continues as your circle of contacts grows. Experts estimate that between 70 – 80% of jobs are never publicly posted and are obtained through networking. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
You may find networking an overwhelming task but it is possible to learn the skills and strategies for effective networking. At HU, the Office of Career Services will help you develop your networking skills.
For further understanding of the topic read the following resources
Informational Interview
One of the best ways to gather information on a career is by talking with professionals who are already working in the field. Conducting an informational interview means learning about a job and seeing if it fits your interests, skills, and personality. It is a great way to reflect on your career aspirations more thoughtfully.
An informational interview is not asking for a job, rather it is gaining information about a career. It includes networking and relationship building because you are creating connections with people who could become your friends, mentors, or maybe future colleagues.
You need to possess certain skills to conduct a successful informational interview and continue your relationships with career professionals. The Office of Career Services at HU will help you in preparing for informational interviews.
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Skills for Creating Work-experience Portfolios
A Work Experience Portfolio is a short collection of documents brought together, in either a print or electronic format, demonstrating the skills, personal attributes and work-related knowledge and experience that you have acquired as a result of your work experience during your study.
In today’s competitive world, it is important for you to gain some work experience during your undergraduate education through internships, volunteer work, work-study etc. Relevant work experience will not only help you craft your career more thoughtfully but will future employers see evidence of your skills, expertise, and experience.
HU will help you plan and gain industry experience and capture your experience through effective portfolios.
