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Are you all set for a summer internship or first job or are you starting to feel the heat with Spring Break approaching? No matter what the situation that you find yourself in, the best career investment you can make is to focus on key relationships. This is true if you are 19, 22, or 59. So here’s three networking ideas to consider for Spring Break:

New targeted introductions.

Use the break to set a goal for the new people you want to meet. Since there are no classes this week, it’s a great time to meet for coffee or just for an introduction. Figure out who you want to meet with and then create a plan to make it happen.

One of the easiest ways to do this is through a personal introduction. Perhaps you want to meet a local business executive in an industry you are interested in. Check him or her out on LinkedIn and see if you have a mutual connection that will help you with an introduction. Another path is to find out what groups or interests you share. From this you can create other ways to meet him or her. The more common ground you uncover or create, the easier it will be for you to connect and stay connected with new people.

Change your scenery

Consider attending an event or activity that will put you in a position to meet interesting new people. Maybe it’s participating in a run to benefit a local charity or going to a presentation to hear a speaker. Interesting connections can be developed around mutual events very easily. Introduce yourself and show interest in others. Connections like this can be valuable over time, especially with your follow-up and nurturing. Uncovering mutual interests or friends with a new acquaintance increases the likelihood of sustaining a long term relationship.

Strengthen Current Relationships.

Your current set of connections and friends need to be attended to. The best way to deepen your ties is to help other people. What can you do over the break? Is your friend’s cousin moving? Is your brother’s roommate facing a problem you can advise on? Can you make an introduction for someone or help with a resume? Being a helpful person within your network is how you strengthen these relationships.

Are you Networking on Spring Break?

What are your networking goals for Spring Break?

© Copyright 2013. Sandra Long. All rights reserved.