2 Reasons Why College Students Don't Like to Network
New college graduates face grim odds at finding a job.
About 17% of Americans between the ages of 20 and 24 don't have a job. About two million college graduates are unemployed.
So how can a college student find a job?
Try networking.
Sounds obvious, right? Networking is a no brainer when you're looking for a job, trying to advance in your field or if you're interested in jumping to another career.
But networking is an alien concept to college students, according to Geoff Falen, the director of the Career Center at Colorado College. He wrote an essay in The Wall Street Journal recently that answered this question: Why Don't Students Network?
Falen suggests that soon-to-be college grads don't feel comfortable networking as a potential employee because their identity is still wrapped up as college students. They also don't feel comfortable reaching out to adults who can help them even if they have connections.
Young college graduates, who loath the prospects of returning home to mom and dad, better get familiar with LinkedIn, professional associations and networking events. Just like people two and three times their age.
To get you started networking, here are some tips for young grads on how to find a job using LinkedIn.
Lynn O'Shaughnessy is the author of The College Solution, an Amazon bestseller, and she also writes for TheCollegeSolutionBlog. Follow her on Twitter.
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Networking image by Aidan Jones. CC 2.0.
