Home for the Holidays……..
Making the most of your visits home…………………..

It is always nice to go home and let mom do your laundry and cooking, sleep late and hang with your friends who are also home. It is nice to enjoy those last college breaks with little to no pressure as you are “still in school.”

These are good times to start thinking about your career choices and can be a great source of information.

Try hanging with your parents and their friends for part of your visit. Holiday parties, open houses, visiting with your friends parents are all a great way to meet, mingle and gain insight on different jobs in addition to building your contact list. Most jobs are found through word of mouth and this is an excellent time to start practicing your networking skills.

Here are a few tips to help you use these gatherings to your advantage:

• Think about or ask in advance who will be at the party in case there is someone that you want to target to meet or talk with
• Have your ‘elevator pitch’ and questions prepared (“Hi Mr. Davis, I am Susan Smith and will be graduating from IU in the spring. I understand you are in marketing for Kraft and wanted to see if there is a time I could set up an informational interview with you?” OR “Cousin Amy, I believe you are in sales for an IT company, can you give me some background on how you got that position and what all you do?”
• Don’t be afraid to say that you don’t know what you want to do upon graduation. Do be prepared to say what interests you and ask for suggestions on what someone who knows you thinks you may excel at in the working world.
• Don’t be shy. You are in a place that you have been invited and welcomed, so use that time to practice approaching people you may not know.
• Take a piece of paper or your PDA and write down who you told you would call so you are sure to remember to follow up, it will show that person you are serious.

Use your days to follow up and have some informational interviews. Try to get ideas of careers, industries or jobs that may be hiring and that you may be a match with qualifications.

If friends and family ask what you would like in the way of gifts, start asking for tools that can aid in your career search – briefcase, professional folder or purse, a calendar or clothing.

Most importantly when meeting or talking with people, ask for referrals of contacts and thank all of those that help you.

Enjoy your holiday while getting a leg up on the competition!