Networking

Networking is a great way to meet people in your industry and find out about job opportunities. Building professional networks is an excellent way to:

• Share ideas and information
• Get noticed and known by peers and employers
• Improve communication skills
• Learn about industry opportunities and job vacancies
• Develop your self-confidence

Networking in Person

There are many ways to network in person, such as attending conferences and events for people in your industry.

Tips for networking in person:

• Be friendly and approach with a smile
• Ease your way into a conversation by listening and asking a relevant question of the group
• Listen and show interest in what others are saying
• If you have business cards, give them to people so they can remember who you are
• When you’re talking to someone, say their name to show you’re listening (and to help you remember it)
• Whether you’re shy or outgoing, be yourself and don’t try to be someone you’re not

Networking Online

For online networking, you need to be on LinkedIn. It’s a powerful business network where you can ‘meet’ industry colleagues and build your personal brand. LinkedIn is also a popular job search site where employers often advertise vacant positions.

Tips for networking on LinkedIn:

• Make sure you complete your entire profile, and always include a photo (don’t leave this blank)
• Include all your experience, even unpaid internships, volunteer work such as with student clubs or events
• Start building LinkedIn connections with people you already know
• When you reach out to connect with someone new, always include a personalised message to remind them of how you met or tell them why you want to connect with them
• Look for LinkedIn Groups relevant to your professional experience or goals
• Show support by commenting on your connection’s status or sharing job listings and other interesting posts
• Share your thoughts by updating your status with what you’ve been up to, sharing an interesting article or other insight your network might find interesting

Ask your colleagues or lecturers if there are any relevant online networking platforms in your industry. Your industry association or peak body may run these.

Careers Service

Your university or education institution may have a careers service or job board you can use. Ask your student advisor where you can find help in finding and applying for jobs. And be sure to check if your university or university union is hiring. There are often lots of job opportunities on campus.

Company Websites

Check out the ‘Careers’ or ‘Employment’ page of the websites of business that often have part-time or casual jobs available, such as:

• Supermarkets (like Coles and Woolworths)
• Restaurants
• Cinemas
• Hotels
• Retail stores
• Convenience stores

For government jobs, keep an eye on:

• I Work for SA (Government of South Australia jobs)
• Careers in Council (local government jobs)

Even if the company you want to work for isn’t advertising right now, you might impress them by sending your resume anyway (but be sure to include a cover letter introducing who you are and why they should hire you).

An interview is a chance to show your future employer why they should hire you, what skills you have to offer and an opportunity to show how you would fit into the team. 

Interview Tips

• Come prepared to answer questions about your strengths, weaknesses, challenges and accomplishments.
• Research the company and know what they’re about
• Dress appropriately, lean towards conservative
• Arrive at least 10 minutes early, so you’re not flustered (and know where you’re going before you leave home)
• Be friendly and enthusiastic
• Pay attention and maintain eye contact
• Be honest and focus on your strengths

To help you further prepare for your next interview, download:

• Common interview questions
• Pre-interview tips

Online Interview Tips

Interviewing via video feels a lot different from meeting in person, but with preparation, you can ace your next interview, even if it’s online.

• The usual rules still apply, so make sure to read our interview tips above and be prepared as if it was a face-to-face interview
• Make sure you have a suitable computer or device and a good internet connection
• Test your technology and program to make sure everything’s working well before your interview time
• Find a quiet space with a neutral background. Preferably somewhere you can close the door
• Avoid messy bedrooms, cluttered shelves or other busy backgrounds which could distract your interviewer
• Turn off all distractions such as phones, TVs and other things that might interrupt your interview
• Do a test run with a friend to check your technology and get used to answering questions via video
• Make sure you’re well-lit so they can see you, and remember your posture as you speak to the camera
• Make eye contact with your interviewer by looking directly at the camera, not at your screen
• Pause for a second before responding to questions to make sure you don’t accidentally talk over the interviewer