Hey everyone,
I'm Natalie, a senior Spanish major and Biology minor looking to go to dental school next fall. Applying to dental schools share many of the same trials and tribulations as obtaining a job or an internship. Resumes/applications float amongst the masses all trying to compete for the same spot/position. I have found one sure fire way to make an application/resume stand out above the rest: Networking! It a shock, but life after the undergrad years is a whole new ballgame. Often, the majority of the people are just as smart as you with many similar experiences that make them as qualified or even more qualified for whatever you are applying for. A helpful way to get your foot in the door is by knowing someone on the inside. It is a very powerful thing to mention a person's name in a cover letter as a reason why you would like a job, an
internship, or in my case a certain dental school. It makes your application pieces more personal and shows that you have really taken the time to investigate the company/school. Also, many jobs are never posted, so knowing people to let you know about these hidden jobs are the only way of ever applying. Approximately 80% of jobs are found through networking; clearly it's a great thing to get started doing.
However, networking is a skill. One has to know where to encounter people that can help them get where they want to be. The Career Center can help with its many activities such as the "Meet the Companies" sessions, "Lunch with a Pro" series, and "Road Shows" trips. You can even network by yourself with the help of career fairs, informational interviews, volunteering within your field, and professional associations. I've personally found it helpful to contact the Washu Dental Alumni Association, volunteer in the dental field, and tour dental schools. Also, your personality and how you present yourself is very important when networking. Being personable, down to earth, and just generably likable can get a person very far in life, with jobs, internships, and post bacclaurate schools. One way to see how your personality comes across to other people is through the mock interviews that the Career Center offers. It's a lot to keep in mind, but networking is very useful for getting to the next step of your career goal.
I'm Natalie, a senior Spanish major and Biology minor looking to go to dental school next fall. Applying to dental schools share many of the same trials and tribulations as obtaining a job or an internship. Resumes/applications float amongst the masses all trying to compete for the same spot/position. I have found one sure fire way to make an application/resume stand out above the rest: Networking! It a shock, but life after the undergrad years is a whole new ballgame. Often, the majority of the people are just as smart as you with many similar experiences that make them as qualified or even more qualified for whatever you are applying for. A helpful way to get your foot in the door is by knowing someone on the inside. It is a very powerful thing to mention a person's name in a cover letter as a reason why you would like a job, an
internship, or in my case a certain dental school. It makes your application pieces more personal and shows that you have really taken the time to investigate the company/school. Also, many jobs are never posted, so knowing people to let you know about these hidden jobs are the only way of ever applying. Approximately 80% of jobs are found through networking; clearly it's a great thing to get started doing.However, networking is a skill. One has to know where to encounter people that can help them get where they want to be. The Career Center can help with its many activities such as the "Meet the Companies" sessions, "Lunch with a Pro" series, and "Road Shows" trips. You can even network by yourself with the help of career fairs, informational interviews, volunteering within your field, and professional associations. I've personally found it helpful to contact the Washu Dental Alumni Association, volunteer in the dental field, and tour dental schools. Also, your personality and how you present yourself is very important when networking. Being personable, down to earth, and just generably likable can get a person very far in life, with jobs, internships, and post bacclaurate schools. One way to see how your personality comes across to other people is through the mock interviews that the Career Center offers. It's a lot to keep in mind, but networking is very useful for getting to the next step of your career goal.
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