Class projects, papers and exams are almost over. You will soon be free to focus on landing that great job after graduation or finding a summer internship. Semester break is an ideal time to launch your networking campaign, meeting with alumni and other advisors who can guide you and share leads.

Career Services has an amazing pool of alumni and parent career advisors who have volunteered to respond to your career development and job search questions. Access the career advisors in our Career Network online (you can search by employer, career field, or location).

Be sure to carefully read the User Guidelines first. Let a career counselor know if you have any questions about proper and effective use of this important network, we're happy to coach you. Our advisors are all eager to help, but they expect you to be professional in your approach and to have questions prepared for them.

Make sure you tap your own contacts for networking, too. Faculty and former supervisors are ideal sources for networking leads since they've observed you in productive roles. Ask them to introduce you to contacts they might have in your field(s) of interest. Send a note out to all family members and friends asking if they have any contacts for you (heck, if you have a doctor, dentist, or haircut appointment schdeduled over break, ask them too--you never know who they might know).

See Using the Semester Break for Job Hunting for more tips.

*Networking has been proven as the most effective job search strategy, particularly in down markets when employers do less advertising.