Students heading out for winter break should have more on their minds than the holiday celebrations. The time at home is the perfect opportunity to get ahead in their search for an internship or job, according to Bentley University’s Director of Undergraduate Career Services.

“Believe it or not, when you're at the Thanksgiving table talking to your aunts and uncles about their jobs, you might realize that you've got a great contact passing you the potatoes,” says Alyssa Hammond, director of undergraduate career services/career education and outcomes. "You wouldn't think that the holidays would be a time to focus on your career search, but it's often the perfect time to make connections." 

Hammond’s top tips for career building over the winter break:

• Digital polish: It might seem obvious, but take a close look at your LinkedIn profile and make sure it’s updated before you start networking and reaching out to contacts. Don’t forget to scrub your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for anything incriminating.
   
• See friends and family in a new light: Everyone is a potential networking contact. The parent of a high school buddy you run into might work in an industry you’re interested in. When they say “what are you up to” or “how are things going” be ready with your elevator pitch. Morrison adds, “Be aware of the value of these encounters and be able to articulate your aspirations.”
   
• Put on your detective hat: Use your research skills, i.e. LinkedIn and Google, to find relevant hometown contacts. Search with keywords including a specific field or company and the name of your hometown or high school. You might find a high school alum who has your dream job or something close. Having that hometown connection might make them more willing to meet you for coffee.
  
  Senior Corporate Finance and Accounting major Robert Federico took his internet search to the next level, “I scoured LinkedIn and Google searching ‘asset manager firms in Boston and Bentley’. Anyone with a connection went into my spreadsheet. I would send cold emails, just 4 or 5 sentences, explaining what I wanted and trying to get them on the phone or to meet for coffee.” One of those emails went to a Bentley alum at a local investment firm. The alum responded by asking for Federico’s resume. He didn’t hear back again until weeks later when someone else from the firm reached out asking him to interview for an internship position, which he landed.
   
• Make the connection: Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you don’t know. The good news is the holidays can be a slower time of year and people might be more receptive to taking the time to speak with you. Ask for no more than 20 minutes and hope it turns into more. A face-to-face meeting always has more impact than a phone call, but if a call is all they can do make the most of it by having a clear list of questions/topics you want to cover.
   
• Seal the deal: When it’s time for an informational meeting be prepared. Know something about what your contact does and the company they work for. Don’t ask directly if they have an internship or job available. Instead build a connection by asking the right questions: “what do you wish you had done when you were in my position? Or “what’s the best advice you ever received?” The goal is for them to remember you and mention you to others in the company or better yet, pass along your resume. Do ask if they have anyone else to refer you to.
   
• Go Shopping: Take advantage of holiday sales to add to your career wardrobe. You need to look professional when going on meetings and interviews after all your successful networking.

No matter what time of year, Federico insists the key to successful networking is persistence. “You can’t get discouraged, even when you hear ‘no’, which you will. Remember that every interaction can lead to the next interaction, which can lead to an opportunity.”