Building Professional Relationships
Building relationships can advance your career goals and tap into your communities of support. Networking isn't limited to gathering business cards or connections for possible job opportunities. Establishing and nurturing professional relationships is also a great tool for career exploration and making career decisions.
Building Your Network
LinkedIn is the best way to build connections online. There you can find over 51,000 Loyola alumni, groups related to your career goals, employees of target companies, and so much more.
Loyola also provides numerous opportunities to connect with potential employers in-person. Whether you are attending a career fair, an employer treks, a company information session, or an alumni panel, you need to be able to present yourself professionally.
Career Fair Preparation & Tips
Informational Interviewing
One of the best ways to understand a career is to talk to someone who is doing it! They can provide the real day to day, address the challenges, share hiring trends, and answer any questions that will help to determine if the career is a good fit for you. These conversations are called Informational Interviews and are a great way to build connections. While the purpose is not explicitly to get a job or internship, they can certainly lead to future opportunities once the relationship is established. You are 12 times more likely to be hired if you have an internal advocate within a company so these professional relationships are an integral part of your job search as well.
Business Cards
You can order personalized, Loyola-branded business cards for $6. Orders take approximately 7-10 business days, and you will be notified when they are ready to pick up at the Rizzo Career Center (shipping is not available at this time).
Note: Business cards are not available for order during summer break.