Graduate and Professional Students
Graduate and Professional Students: Building Your Professional Network
Building social capital is essential for all students, but especially graduate and professional students. They have the unique opportunity to explore academic and non-academic tracks due to their exceptional credentials.
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Career Fairs are excellent opportunities to explore the job market, market oneself, and/or ask questions of potential employers.
Dress in business professional attire and bring copies or your resume. Details of each career fair and program are provided on our website and include information on time, location, and shuttles (if applicable) for off campus fairs.
Who you know might help you grow and secure employment.
Learn how to Build Your Network and start reaching out.
Join the University of Georgia Mentor Program.
This program is the first university-wide mentorship program that connects all students to faculty, staff, and alumni to cultivate meaningful relationships and conversations personal and professional development. Any student is eligible to join this free program.
Leverage attendance at conferences and meetings that are hosted by professional organizations in your discipline.
If possible, have conversations with your advisor, professionals in the field, and/or peers who have attended conference and ask their suggestions regarding navigating networking in your field. Networking at these meetings range from inviting a new colleague for coffee or learning about special interest group meetings. Special interest groups are usually sub-groups of professional organizations, a collective of professionals who are interested in or research a particular topic.
We offer several tips regarding how to conduct informational interviews.
LinkedIn Learning offers a general tutorial on “How to Rock a Conference.” Don't have LinkedIn? Learn more about how to leverage LinkedIn and get connected to fellow professionals. Need a professional photo? Utilize our free, self-service photo booth.