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Join a trade organization.
Almost every job imaginable has a trade
association. Google your profession and investigate your options. Sign up
for free newsletters and industry alerts.
Conferences.
Trade shows and conferences are great for learning about
competitors, new products, and industry trends; and they can provide
ample networking opportunities.
Online networks and blogs.
Online networking sites and blogs are not for
personal journaling anymore. Many bloggers are highly respected in their
fields and have relevant information to share. Connecting with
professionals within your industry on Twitter and LinkedIn can also point you
in the right direction.
Custom search engines.
Google Alerts service notifies you when certain
words you’ve “tagged” are indexed by Google's search engine. For
instance, if you're a nurse, you might want to get notified about news in
your field such as changes in scope of practice, or legislation that impacts
the medical field. You set up the frequency of your notifications and can
have the information sent as links via e-mail or an RSS feed.
As an impending graduate, life is your oyster. You have your entire life in front of
you and you are ready to take advantage of your education and begin a new
life. Transitions in life bring with them anxiety, uncertainty, and fear. You are
going from the security of your classroom into the unknown. But you are
prepared! In this section, you learned how to take care of yourself and plan for
your future. You learned about the importance of communicating your needs
and preparing for the unexpected. You are ready to conquer the world!
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Section 18 – Planning For Your Future