JOG the Web: Building a Professional Network
The Workplace Landscape Can be Tough to Navigate, Here’s Some Tips on How to Be Successful!
As our recent 2024 graduates go through their first summer after achieving their high school diploma or GED, many of them will begin to look for ways to be work ready for life after school. The landscape can be tough to navigate when there are so many websites to look through, ways to present themselves to companies, and a variation of other rules to following to get what could be their first job after graduation. One of the best ways to extend opportunities in the industry a participant has chosen is through networking.
Networking is an opportunity to talk with professionals from similar industries. This could be a public job fair of hiring companies in the area, an information night at the library, alumni discussions with graduates from your high school, online information sessions through platforms like LinkedIn or a variety of other ways to engage with industry professionals. Introducing yourself to people at one of these events is a great way to get your name out there to people in an industry you are interested in. Even if you may not meet all of the qualifications to be hired directly into an open position at their company, a representative may be able to give you tips on steps to achieving a position in said industry. They may even have the name of someone you can talk to further about taking that next step.
Another perk to networking is your name being passed along to other professionals. In some cases, there may not be anyone at a networking event you attend that is directly in your industry of interest. This does not mean that there are any opportunities, however. By presenting yourself in a professional manner, introducing yourself and having a conversation, you may be able to make connections you did not originally think would make an impact. You never know when you may bump into someone again in the workplace.
All in all, it is important for career growth to continue to meet other people in a professional setting. Whether that is in a networking specific event, or just an alumni night at your high school, it is important to continue to present yourself in the best light and meet more people. If you are interested in learning more about how JOG connects our participants with future success through workforce development opportunities, please go to jogworks.org to learn more.
