Brooke
Can attending a small university hinder your post-grad job prospects when compared to a larger university with more connections?
As a graduating senior who is constantly looking into job opportunities I am beginning to wonder if my decision to attend a small private school could be hurting my chances of finding a job because of a lack of connections, when compared to my friends who attended larger schools. #college #graduate #job-search
2 answers
Ken Simmons
Ken’s Answer
Hi Brooke!
It does not really matter where you go to school. What matters is how well you do and how well you reach out and form connections and do networking. Connections are the result of your actions and not directly related to the type and size of the school.
Best of luck! Please let me know if and how this helps. Keep me informed. I would like to follow your progress.
Thanks so much for your response and advice! I actually am already in college and will graduate this May with a bachelors in health sciences. I go to school in AL but am from CA and plan to move home after graduation to save on cost of living in order to pay off my students loans; which won't take long because I will graduate with under $15k in debt. I also work two jobs in order to pay for school and have a hard time being able to attend career fairs because they often times occur while I have work. Is it in my advantage to take time off work to attend these career fairs to network in AL even though I am planning to move across the country after graduation?
Brooke
Ken Simmons
Ken’s Answer
Congratulations on going so far and holding costs down. What are your aspirations which caused you to major in Heath Sciences? Networking is definitely the way to go. Talk to the head of alumni relations at your school about meeting people who graduated from you school in your major who are living and/or working in your area of California. Do this in person preferably or by phone but not email. You want to maintain a inter personal interaction. Explain to this person what you might want to do with Health Sciences and see who you might be able to meet and visit who could show you how this degree has been used. Make sure that you let these people know that you do not expect them to know a job, but that you would like to see how this degree is used and how you might fit in with your interests. Also, look for professional organizations to which people in your interest area belong, so that you can mix and mingle. Your academic adviser might be able to help with this or you can to to the reference librarian at your local library.
Career fairs might be a good option as many organizations might have branches in your California area, but only do this if it is not too inconvenient and does not interfere too much with your job. Also explain to your boss what you plans might be. If you need to, and they have a branch and you need a job when you go back, even on a temporary basis, it could help. Also, you never know who that person might know in California. The other stated processes might be more effective. Here are some tips on attending Career Fairs:
https://www.themuse.com/tags/career-fairs?sort=
Constantly, whenever it is appropriate to put into the conversation: "I am graduating in May in Health Sciences. I would like to explore various applications of this degree in XXXXX, California. Do you know anyone in that area who might be able to give me some helpful information?" If and when you get a lead, follow up with a phone call or a personal visit, when possible. You never know who knows whom. Try this and let me know if it helps.
Best of luck!