Besides just an education, college can provide the opportunity to meet and greet and press the flesh. Networking is one opportunity that just might land you that dream job.

ISU students have numerous networking opportunities all around campus that can help make the right career choice easier.

Loni Pringnitz, assistant director Engineering Career Services, suggested faculty, professors, Career Services, Student Alumi contact files, company representatives visiting campus, family and friends as good people with whom to network. Pringnitz said, “There are so many ways to network, but it’s not easy and it takes work.”

Roger Bruene, director of Career Services for the College of Agriculture, said, “A lot of times networking will assist college students in determining the kind of field to follow. I see a lot of first and second year students still trying to sort things out.”

Bruene said that it is important for first and second year students to attend career days along with the upper classmen.

“A lot of employment opportunities at the College of Agriculture’s Career Day are available to first and second year students,” he said.

Steve Kravinsky, director of Business/LAS Career Services, said, “You (students) can begin networking as early as freshmen year.” Career days are a great place to network and more and more freshmen and sophomores are going to the Business/LAS Career Day, Kravinsky said.

Pringnitz said that the Engineering Career Services office thinks freshmen through graduate students should attend career days. She encouraged students “to begin (college) with the end in mind.”

More and more freshmen are going over to the Engineering Career Day, Pringnitz said. “It’s a networking opportunity students shouldn’t pass up,” she said.

When students attend career days they should identify people who can help get their foot in the door. Once you work in a company the networking possibilities blossom.

Kravinsky said students should attend career days with objectives and goals. One way Kravinsky suggested to prepare for a career day is to have your “60 second commercial” prepared.

Students need to know what they want to say to a potential employer because career days are noisy, crowded, and full of distractions for employers and students alike.

Pringnitz said career days allow you to “try to identify opportunities” with companies that come to campus, find out additional resources of who to contact and when, and have your resume on file with a company.

If you are interested in a certain company, keep the communication channels open. Kravinsky said, “Networking often means following up with people. If you don’t follow up, chances are people aren’t going to follow up with you.”

But Bruene warned, “There is a fine line between showing interest and harassment. Whatever students do needs to be done professionally. The key is to be professional.”

Career days may be over for some colleges but others have yet to take place. The largest career day ever for the College of Agriculture takes place Nov. 12 so don’t miss out on the opportunities to network.