Preparing for your future

by Hannah Clements

It’s never too early to think about what’s going to happen after graduation, no matter what year you are in or what course you are currently studying.  And one of the best ways to prepare is to start speaking to people. Here are some pointers….

Approach your ‘warm’ contacts

• Although you may not know anyone working in the field you’re aiming at directly, it may well be that there is someone helpful in your extended network.

•  Have a think about your friends’ friends, your family’s friends, and your colleague networks, and see if  there is any potential help for you there.

Have a name and a job title

• You can get names through the organisation’s website, trade press (find out who’s doing what and get a relevant name from there) or receptionists.

• If you can come up with a point of reference, then so much the better, for example, if you want to work in television, get the name of the producer of the BBC News at Ten, and contact them.

Go for people at all different levels

• Someone in their first job, or setting up their own business, could give you all sorts of helpful hints based on their recent experience.

• A senior manager within the organisation could give you great insights into the field at the moment.

• Middle managers would be able to give you a clear idea of what opportunities are out there, and what they would look for in a new recruit.

Never ask for a job

• A much more successful approach is to see each new contact as a source of information and advice and as a way to make more contacts.

• Building contacts will help you become better informed and better connected within the field.

• Be patient - Networking your way to an opportunity is not likely to get you an immediate result.

 Don’t expect instant or even quick results

• It may feel frustrating and be time consuming, and even costly, what with the phone calls, travel, and buying people cups of coffee, but you do need to prepare yourself for a long haul.

• Plan for some weeks or months working on it. This will allow you to make practical contingency plans (such as a job in a bar to pay your rent), and will help you to keep your motivation.

Think of someone who is a good networker. What could you learn from them?

• Where do they meet people?

• How do they strike up conversations?

• How do they turn a casual chat into something more productive?

 

Look for more pointers and help on Creative Living:www.arts.ac.uk/student/careers/creativeliving