A personal board of directors is a small group of people who you turn to for support and advice on advancing your career. This group of individuals typically consists of four to eight people who have an interest in seeing you succeed. When thinking about who a good fit for you may be, look for people you admire and respect. This could be a former supervisor or professor, co-worker, classmate, UNL alumni, relative, someone in your network, or someone in your community. Your board can:
1. Develop, coach, and challenge you. Look for people who will help you to see your blind spots or fill in your gaps. They may ask you hard questions, help you discover other perspectives, or identify roadblocks. They may have experience pursuing similar career goals and share lessons they learned along the way. Additionally, they may aid in teaching you techniques and skills needed for your industry.
2. Provide support or advocate for you. These are the people who provide positivity and cheer you on or help during tough times. They may also have a strong network and will advocate for you.
3. Open doors and expand your network. Networking is a key ingredient to a job search strategy. These are the people who will open a closed door for you, send job postings to you, or connect you to others in their network.
Diversify your board. Search for people both in and out of your industry, and who have various years of experience. Husker Connect (huskerconnect.unl.edu) is an online platform with Nebraska alumni in various industries ready to have career conversations with College of Business students. Build your online profile, search for alumni, send messages on the platform, and meet people who can impact your career.
Communication with each person on your board will vary, and you may have access to some more than others. For individuals you do not see on a consistent basis, stay connected by emailing or calling them to invite them to coffee or schedule a 30-minute chat. Ask them about their work and interests and share something about you. It’s important to find a balance between building your relationship and not reaching out only when you need something or have nothing to say.
Will your board always stay the same? No. Your career path may change or your need for a particular individual’s support may fade.
Lauren Stehlik
Assistant Director, Business Career Center
More details at: http://business.unl.edu/current-students/business-career-center/