Grow your Network!

It is important to start growing your network during your time at Brock to strengthen your connections with professionals. Networking is a great way to explore career paths and discover potential opportunities. 

Create your LinkedIn Profile 

To get started on your networking journey, you will want to first create your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is a professional platform that can be used to build your profile, find jobs, strengthen professional relationships, and connect with various individuals to help you navigate your career journey. For a more extensive guide on how to create your LinkedIn profile and making connections please visit the Social Media & Branding section on the CareerZone portal (careerzone.brocku.ca). Additionally, in our physical CareerZone space we have a professional headshot booth available for all students to take their LinkedIn profile picture to kickstart their networking journey! 

 

Start With Who You Know

 

Now that you have activated your LinkedIn profile, it is time to start growing your network. Reaching out to strangers can be intimidating, so we recommend to start connecting with who you know. Send connection requests to your friends, family, co-workers, professors, TAs, and peers to build your network.

Connect with Alumni

 

To further grow your network, LinkedIn has an excellent feature that allows you to connect with Brock University alumni to learn from their experiences and ask your career/program related questions. To access this feature, go to Brock University’s LinkedIn page and select the Alumni tab from the menu on the left. Then use the search function or click on filters to narrow down profiles of interest. It is very important that you send an introduction message along with your connection requests on LinkedIn. Doing so generates a conversation because your personalized message should explain who you are and WHY you want to connect with that particular person. 

 

Another great networking platform is Ten Thousand Coffees. This program virtually connects students to Brock alumni based on their career goals and interests. This is advantageous for students to ask questions about their industry of interest and learn from personal experiences.  To get started please visit Brock University’s Ten Thousand Coffees at (https://www.tenthousandcoffees.com/schools/brocku).

Connect with us virtually and in-person this summer! 

 

If you have any questions related to networking, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Summer Career Assistant team! Our in-person drop-in hours are Tuesday to Thursday from 10-4 pm. If you are unable to visit us in-person, feel free to email us at career@brocku.ca. In addition, visit the CareerZone events calendar to view our drop-in Virtual Q&A sessions and Café workshops. Happy networking! 

 

Follow Us Our Social Media to Stay Up-to-Date With All our Upcoming Events and Workshops! 

Twitter: @BrockCareerZone 

Instagram: @brockcareerzone  

  

Written by Brieanna Wannack, Lead Career Assistant

Edited by Kara Renaud, Manager of Career Education, CCEE Department 

Navigating the Post-Graduation Job Hunt: Tips for New Graduates

Job searching after graduation can be a time-consuming and tiring process. This summer, CareerZone is here to help you make that process faster and easier with some useful tips and steps.

Step 1: Give yourself enough time to prepare for Job Search

As a recent graduate, looking for a job in the real world can be stressful. Prior to beginning your work search, it is important to understand who you are, your interests, values, and skills. We encourage students to start by reviewing the Degree Exploration Guides for their program. The guide can help you identify skills and potential career pathways for their degree. This is helpful to craft your application documents (resume, cover letter). Connect with us for a document review in Caree Zone by emailing career@brocku.ca or drop-in to see us Monday through Friday between 10a.m. and 4 p.m.

https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/preparation_2644373

Step 2: Market yourself by leveraging your Social Media, LinkedIn and Network.

Utilize Linkedin and 10 Thousand Coffees to find opportunities to discover and connect with professionals who are in the same field as you. This could include alumni, current students, leaders, professors and teaching assistants. In addition to LinkedIn, utilize other social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for your job search. Furthermore, it is essential to combine them with standard methods like networking, going to career fairs, and contacting employers directly. Make sure to check out our Quick Tips on New Grad job search on your CareerZone student portal. 

https://www.flaticon.com/search?word=networking

Steps 3: Finding Opportunities

Using keywords to help you focus on target industries will help you conduct an effective job search. It is also important to network with professionals on platforms like Ten Thousand Coffees and LinkedIn and expand connections. For information on how to conduct career conversations through informational interviews and communicate your goals through elevator pitching, check out the CareerZone resources in your student portal. Opportunities can be found on the CareerZone Job Board, where many of the postings are directed toward recently graduated students. Additionally, we suggest that you use community resources such as, Talent Egg to kick-start your career. Also, access your degree exploration guide to find additional job boards to review.

https://www.flaticon.com/search?word=job%20search

Connect With Us!

We are here to support you, so don’t be afraid to ask for help! We offer many student resources on our portal (careerzone.brocku.ca) and can be contacted via email at career@brocku.ca to answer any inquiries you may have. 

Follow Us Our Social Media to Stay Up-to-Date With All our Upcoming Events and Workshops!

Twitter: @BrockCareerZone

Instagram: @brockcareerzone 

Written by Chelsa Sunil, Career Assistant

Edited by Kara Renaud, Manager of Career Education, CCEE Department