Opportunities to network are everywhere. Friends, family, colleagues, past employers and alumni associations are good starting points.
LinkedIn is the networking site of choice for many professionals, when you ask someone to connect with you, take a few minutes to personalise the request, to show you really care about connecting with them.
Social media gives you an opportunity to let people know you are looking for a job.
Include links to your social profiles as part of your contact information.
Be prepared to talk about yourself when you are asked – your study, what you’ve enjoyed, your career goals,and what you think are your strengths. If you are not prepared, you will look like you are not a confident professional.
Don’t assume networking in Australia works in the same way as it does in your home country. Learn by observation and seek out a mentor who can guide you through some networking situations and give you feedback.
When you attend an event where you don’t know anyone, look for others who may also be attending alone. They are likely to be happy to start talking with you.
Prepare general conversation starters and questions so you don’t have to come up with ideas off the cuff.
Learn to do small talk and always be interested in the person you are talking to.
Look people in the eye and actively listen to what they are saying.
Never interrupt anyone or complete their sentences; wait for the other person to finish speaking before you speak
