[SPEAKER_00]
Chapter
four,
strengthening,
networking,
and
other
essential
skills.
If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.
John Quincy Adams
Recognizing the need for students to develop essential soft skills desired by employers, Clark was interested in the role that extracurricular activities play in the development of soft skills.
The research questions can be summarized as follows.
Are soft skills more likely to be learned through extracurricular activities or as part of degree requirements?
Are all extracurricular activities equal in terms of developing soft skills?
And what role do extracurricular activities play in gaining employment?
A survey focused on extracurricular activities and the impact of these activities, if any, on employment and was emailed to fourteen thousand five hundred and thirty eight alumni who graduated from Lancaster University between nineteen ninety and two thousand ten.
The survey reached fourteen thousand two hundred and fifteen alumni, was opened by five thousand ninety-five, and a total of six hundred and twenty alumni completed the survey.
Those who responded to the survey were also invited to participate in an interview.
A total of three hundred and twenty agreed to be interviewed, and the researchers selected twenty-five from the list that represented diversity in terms of extracurricular activities,
occupations, gender, and years since graduation.
A total of eighteen interviews were conducted.
The first research question focused on where soft skills were learned from extracurricular activities or as part of degree requirements.
results indicated that skills were learned from both extracurricular activities and course requirements, but alumni reported that communication skills, interpersonal skills, and self-confidence learned from extracurricular experiences were most critical to landing their first job.
Interestingly, extracurricular and academic experiences led to differing skill sets.
For example, more alumni reported
learning planning and analytical skills, time management, problem solving, and creativity from their degree program.
However, alumni reported that extracurricular activities led to increased skill development in almost all the other areas, communication skills, interpersonal skills, self-confidence, decision-making, and leadership.
the second research question focused on whether all types of extracurricular activities really resulted in the same skill set all types of extracurricular activities enhanced interpersonal skills while most also improve self-confidence and leadership skills however alumni did report that certain activities facilitated the development of some skills more than others for example
Paid employment was the only activity they reported that developed business.
Confidence was reportedly most developed through sports and interpersonal skills, or most developed through social groups or organizations.
The last major research question focused on whether extracurricular activities played a role in employment.
Survey and interview data indicated that participating in extracurricular activities did help graduates gain employment and perform well in the position.
More specifically, sixty-four percent of alumni indicated
that the extracurricular activity helped them land their first job and fifty-seven percent indicated the skills developed from participating in extracurricular activities helped them perform well on the job.
Alumni consistently reported that activities helped them perform
This research illustrates that the college experience involves much more than completing degree requirements.
To learn and develop the soft skills that are desired by employers, participate in extracurricular activities.
Because different types of activities can build different skills, consider participating in more than one type of activity.
Participating in extracurricular activities such as sports, social clubs, art or music related opportunities, volunteer work or paid employment can enrich your college experience and help you build skills that will serve you well now and in the future.
Although you are likely just beginning your college journey and are several years away from starting your career, there are many important actions you can take now to set yourself up for career success in the future.
Research has shown that networking has a long-term positive impact on career success.
Individuals with larger and stronger networks are more likely to be employed and have higher salaries.
, salary growth potential, and career satisfaction.
People with privilege as compared to people who identify as part of marginalized group are more likely to have these larger, stronger networks.
According to Costfeder, seventy to eighty percent of jobs are found through networking rather than advertisements.
There are many hidden job opportunities, jobs that are never advertised but are instead filled through connections.
Thus, one of the best career management strategies is to develop and use your network and it may be especially important to do if your current network is limited.
Networking involves establishing and maintaining personal and professional relationships with others.
When most people think about networking, who you know comes to mind.
Although who you know is critical, networking also involves who knows you and what you know.
When you know someone in a career field, this person may be willing to make a connection for you.
Sometimes opportunities present themselves in other ways.
For example, if others notice your talents and contributions, they may seek you out to encourage you to apply for a position.
What you know also matters because your knowledge and skills are needed in order to land the position and meet with success.
Networking is one of the primary ways to find employment and to advance up the career ladder.
Research has shown that the structure of social networks and the connections between key actors are just as important, if sometimes not even more important, as the knowledge and skills of the individual.
Having a strong network has been associated with higher levels of employment, higher salaries and increased career satisfaction.
Unfortunately, many inequities exist with those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds having stronger networks.
People who identify as a part of marginalized groups may not know others with needed connections and may also not feel comfortable reaching out to individuals with privilege who can be of help to them.
For example, a woman in the STEM field who may have experienced
perceived or real sexism from a male professor may be reluctant to visit his office hours, but a male in that same class may be more likely to get to know that professor and thus assimilate him into his professional network.
Ozer and Perk noted that education is an effective way to combat these inequities.
Students can start expanding and strengthening their networks as soon as they begin college.
Stewart noted that students should use their identity as an asset when networking and should take advantage of networking opportunities offered by the college that have been designed with a diverse student population in mind.
Consider what makes you unique and who might value your perspectives.
You can explore the values of individuals and organizations by viewing their social media posts or websites.
This can help you determine who you want to connect with and the shared value you discover gives you a talking point to get a conversation started.
Gaining confidence with developing and using social networks leads to increased success.
The more you engage in networking behaviors, the more confident and skilled you will become.
Networking is related to social capital, which refers to the collective value of all social networks and the trust, reciprocity, information, and cooperation generated by those social networks.
Another way to think about social capital is to focus on the structure and associated benefits of your relationships.
Many opportunities will present themselves through your relationships, so it is important to establish professional connections with others.
Researchers have found that gender and race play a role in networks.
For example, in a study conducted by Blomart, it was found that women have less diverse networks, meaning many in their network hold similar types of positions.
Having more diverse networks can provide increased access to varied occupations.
Women were also found to have fewer higher status members such as managers in their network.
This has also been found to be true for people of color.
Most of us prefer to be in situations where we are with others who are like us because this is more comfortable.
For example, research has found that women did not find it comfortable to attend networking events
because there are often more males at these events, especially in positions of authority.
Although researchers have found that connecting with others who are like you in terms of gender and race can provide you with valuable support, connecting with others who are different from you can help you expand and diversify your network.
College is a great time to develop and strengthen networks.
One of the primary benefits of attending college lies with the networking opportunities with both higher-status members, such as professors, and with peers who will soon become high-status colleagues.
Black and Latinx students have reported that developing relationships with their professors increase their social capital.
Research by McGuire found that although women and people of color initially had fewer high status network members, once they were given the opportunity to interact with high status employees, they were just as likely as white men to have high status network members.
Take advantage of opportunities in college to connect with high status professionals.
Social capital is not only influenced by the number of connections or relationships you have, but the nature and strength of these relationships.
Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to networks.
It is therefore important to really get to know others and for others to really get to know you.
If someone recommends you for a position, their reputation is at stake.
The more they know and trust you,
the more likely it is that they will be willing to take this risk and recommend you for a position when the time comes.
You never know what experience a relationship might lead to a great opportunity.
Sondheim argued that networking is also about who knows you and suggested that you engage in actions that help you stand out from a crowd.
Always put your best foot forward, making positive first impressions.
As you know, first impressions can be long-lasting.
As a college student, engage in actions that demonstrate your work ethic and values.
You might be surprised at how much others will take note of your actions.
Others will likely notice if you have a strong work ethic and are passionate about what you do.
Similarly, Levin believed that the key element related to successful networking
is your character and whether others like you.
Most people are more likely to go above and beyond for others they like and admire and for those who seek to use their talents for the greater good, rather than only being concerned with personal gain.
What you know also really matters, despite what the adage says.
Higher grades have been linked to success at finding a job after graduation.
When professionals in your network know about your skills and talents, they will be more likely to make you aware of opportunities related to your career interest and recommend you for a position.
While a professional contact might be able to help you get an interview, you will need to have strong background knowledge and skills to be offered the position and to ultimately perform well.
Gaining knowledge and skills will undoubtedly increase job opportunities and ultimate success in your desired career path.
Networking is a skill and it takes time to develop it.
Developing and enhancing your networking skills while in college is therefore critically important.
Villalorio suggested that networks be established long before it's time to engage in the job search process.
As with all relationships, time is needed to develop trust and foster professional relationships.
And as a college student, you have many opportunities to form new connections and strengthen existing relationships.
Most colleges and universities offer resources such as a career center that can assist you with developing this important networking skill set.
McCorkle suggested that students connect with career centers
their college sooner versus later.
This is because students who seek out assistants with networking skills benefit from doing so.
According to results from the annual Gallup-Purdue University study of college graduates, graduates who visited a career center at their college at least once were more likely to be working full-time.
Specifically, sixty-seven percent of college graduates who visited a career center
were employed full-time as compared to fifty-nine percent of graduates who did not visit the Career Center.
Becoming an active participant or leader of a club, student organization or sport is a great way to develop skills and make connections with others who share your interests.
Not surprisingly, research has shown that students who are involved in extracurricular activities are more likely to find employment.
This is likely due to both networking and skill development.
Another great way to build your network
is to take advantage of college or community sponsored events.
For example, colleges will often host job fairs.
You may also want to consider joining professional organizations related to your career interests.
If you need assistance with finding professional organizations linked to your goals, ask your advisor, a faculty member, or search the internet.
Many professional organizations have a student network within the larger structure and have several ways for you to learn about the profession.
For instance, you might want to sign up for a newsletter or follow the organization on social media.
If the organization sponsors a conference or meeting, consider attending.
This is an excellent way to learn about careers and connect with professionals in the field.
In fact, researchers have found that there is a connection between career success and attending conferences, business-related gatherings, and other in-person networking events.
One way to start networking is to seek out a faculty or professional mentor.
If you have not already done so, investigate the areas of expertise for the faculty in your declared major.
Determine which faculty member is engaged in work that matches your interests and values.
For example, a faculty member might be looking for an assistant to help with a service project for a non-profit organization or a research project on biofeedback.
If you're given the opportunity to work side by side with a faculty member, you will learn valuable skills while you also develop a professional relationship.
You will tend to learn skills more quickly when supported by a mentor, especially when your mentor provides you with constructive feedback about your skills and performance.
You never know what doors might open because of this relationship.
For instance, you might be invented to co-present at a professional meeting or conference or be invited to co-author a publication.
Be open to experiences and opportunities that come your way.
Although professors make great mentors, you may also want to seek out a mentoring relationship with a professional who works full-time in your field of interest.
For example, if you're interested in becoming a lawyer, you may want to find a mentor who practices law in a specialty area that interests you.
Reach out to the alumni office on your campus for assistance with identifying a potential mentor in your field of interest.
Alumni are often interested in helping students from their alma mater.
Having more than one mentor can be helpful.
Wilde noted that it is unlikely one individual will be able to meet all of your needs and suggested having a mentoring network composed of several professionals and peers.
Establishing a mentoring network means you can benefit from mentors who are both similar and different from you.
Engaging with others who are similar can provide you with comfort and support.
Researchers have found that students of color and women believe mentors were more helpful when they were from same race or gender.
Not surprisingly, you will likely be most influenced by others who look like you.
However, it can sometimes be helpful to find mentors who are different than you.
For example, if you are a female who is interested in a career that is currently composed of mostly males,
Having a mentor who understands the field may be more important than having a mentor from the same gender.
Research has found that having a mentor who shares your values is more important than sharing demographic characteristics.
Blake did not find any differences in terms of academic outcomes associated with having a mentor of similar or different gender or race.
After you have identified a possible mentor, request a meeting to discuss their work and explore mentorship possibilities.
Consider asking yourself the following questions before you request a meeting.
What are your academic and career goals?
What do you want to know about their work?
How do their professional interests fit with your interests and goals?
Why are you asking this person to be your mentor?
Relationships take work.
Develop a plan to nurture your current network.
For example, if you see a professional you already know at a meeting or event, reach out and have at least a brief conversation to find out how they are doing.
Another simple but powerful strategy is to make a quick phone call or send a text or email to see how they are doing.
, the more frequently you interact with and support members of your network, the stronger the relationships will be.
Small gestures such as sending a quick thank you note when someone shared their wisdom or advice with you can go a long way.
Watch how professionals engage in networking and learn from their actions.
You will discover that networking continues to be important throughout your career.
Hora and Doherty, for example, found that survey respondents with an average of fifteen years of work experience still engaged in many networking behaviors, such as maintaining contacts, giving out business cards and sending thank you notes, volunteering for tasks that have high visibility, important committees or assignments, participating in community events,
engaging in professional activities, such as attending or speaking at conferences, writing articles and blogs.
A strong network can provide you with support and may be able to give you access to new career opportunities.
Focus on the most important members of your network and spend the time and energy needed to keep these relationships going.
You're like most students, social media is probably an important part of your life.
College students spend a lot of time on various social media sites.
Your social media actions can impact you both personally and professionally.
Although most students do not believe it is appropriate for employers to use social media in hiring decisions, it is likely that a future employer will look at your online presence.
Employers have the right to access public information about a candidate and can choose not to hire someone with questionable character or moral values.
According to a recent survey, ninety-three percent of recruiters reviewed the social profile of a candidate before making a hiring decision and fifty-five percent reported reconsidering a candidate after doing so.
Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are the most frequently checked social media sites.
Researchers have found that personality factors can be determined by reviewing social networking sites.
Reviews can lead to positive or negative impressions of you.
Hosts that illustrated volunteering and donated to charity for example
reviewed positively by recruiters.
Employers have noted several types of posts that have resulted in a negative impression.
These included discriminatory comments, substance use, posts that depicted self-absorption and being opinionated, sexual content, profanity, and spelling and grammar mistakes.
Many employers have reported they did not hire candidates due to content found on social media sites.
In an experiment conducted by Bonert and Ross, it was found that individuals with a Facebook page that had an alcohol emphasis were less likely to be offered job interviews and were offered lower salaries than individuals with professional or family-oriented Facebook pages.
Heartwell and Ross similarly found evidence that drug use negatively impacted hiring decisions.
If you do not have a social media presence, employers may still make assumptions about you.
In a study conducted with students who were asked to view social media as if they were employers, assumptions about no social media included believing the person was asocial or not skilled with technology.
Knowing your social media presence is important.
Google yourself to determine what information about you is available on the internet.
Review your social media posts, especially those that are available to the public.
Ask yourself the following question.
What messages do your photos and posts send about you?
Who are your friends or connections and what do these relationships say about you?
, based only on the information available via the internet, how would someone describe you?
If an employer reviewing this information, how might your social media presence influence whether they would hire you for a position?
If your social media presence is not communicating the professional message that you want future employers to see, take the following actions now to change and improve your social media image.
Check your privacy settings and make decisions about what information you want public versus private.
It is important to note, however, that your online friends or connections may share information you post or may even create their own posts about you.
Thus, if there is something that you do not want public, it may be best to avoid putting this information on the internet at all.
Limit your online friend group to those whom you truly trust to help you convey a positive social media image.
Talking with your friends about the importance of having a professional image can also help.
Delete photos or comments that may not be viewed positively by an employer.
Moving forward, only post content that you would be comfortable with a future colleague reading or seeing.
These actions can help you avoid
and negative social media presence.
Social media can positively impact your career.
Platforms such as LinkedIn were created to help you establish a professional online presence and make professional connections.
Cring's found that both younger and older adults are using social media to promote themselves professionally.
If you do not already have a LinkedIn account, consider creating one.
Use this account to share a professional photo, a profile summary, your accomplishments, and professional interests.
Research has found that having a photo with facial prominence and a longer profile summary was connected to more job offers.
Post updates to your account when you receive an award or honor, successfully complete a major project,
learn a new skill that is relevant to your field of interest, or land a great internship or other work experience.
By sharing your accomplishments, you are developing a professional presence on social media.
Employers often look at your social media presence for evidence of professionalism and for additional details on your work experiences.
While it might be relatively easy for you to increase your network using technology, it is important to remember that quality really matters when it comes to networking.
It is therefore not about making as many connections as possible, but rather developing meaningful relationships with others.
Before sending or accepting requests to be connected, remember that you can be judged by the peers or colleagues with whom you choose to interact.
Who you choose as your friends or connections says a lot about who you are as a person.
Social media can also impact you after being hired.
Companies may monitor your social media presence, making sure that your actions are consistent with the company image.
For example, some companies may prohibit you from making negative comments about the company, although this is certainly a privacy issue.
Sanchez, April reviewed legal cases and reported it seems that US employers may legally
Canvas social media sites for information on employees and candidates and act on the basis of the information found therein.
Familiarize yourself with the social media policy at your place of employment to avoid engaging in actions that could jeopardize your employment.