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5) Campus Leverage
Professors as references and advocates
In the US, a professor is more than just a teacher; they are a gateway to the industry. Many professors consult for big companies or sit on boards. Don't just be a face in the crowd. Go to Office Hours. When a company asks for a reference, you want your name to be first.
Many students think a career fair is just a place to hand out paper resumes. That is a mistake. In the US, the goal of a career fair is to get a referral or an interview invite on the spot.
- Never go to your favorite company first. Go to three practice companies to warm up your pitch. When you finally talk to your dream company, don't ask "What do you do?" Instead, say: "I’ve been following your recent project on [X], and I built a project that solves a similar problem. Who is the best person to talk to about internships?"
- Within 24 hours, message the recruiter on LinkedIn. Mention something specific you talked about. This moves you from "random student" to "serious candidate."
Free Resource: Job Fair Advice: How to Use Your 5 Minutes to Get an Interview
Resources
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