Networking

Internship Research

Talents

Part 2: Elevator pitch

Part 4: Facebook page audit

Part 3: LinkedIn profile

Part 5: Networking event

Part 1: Personal network objective

My only goal for networking this year is finding that one-of-a-kind internship.

Semester 1:

I will try to enlarge my network and come in contact with people who can help me with finding an internship. I will develop my networking skills and I will fear nothing or no one. There is nothing I can lose.For me, the internship is the most important part of the IBM program.

Network:

Parents, friends and family

Semester 2:

Meanwhile, I have successfully developed my LinkedIn profile and by doing so, I got several internships offers and even job offers. At first, I didn't think LinkedIn could really be of a valuable use for a student but it has proven me wrong.

When looking at my internship, I have contacted several companies by mail or phone but without any success. This proved me that networking is THE ONLY way to find an internship suited for me. I am now in contact with several people who are helping me with an internship in their company. I am betting on multiple success horses so I hope one of them will get to the end.

Network:

See LinkedIn

"Internship Helpers":

Alain Puttemans, International Account Director at Coca-Cola Company

Geert Bekaert, Cooperman Professor of Finance at Colombia Business School

Marc Begijn, Manager at Volvo China

Katrien Van De Velde, Senior Manager Quality and Risk Manager at KPMG

Peggy De Clercq, Private Banker at BNP Paribas Fortis

Hello, my name is Nino Galle and I am currently studying International Business Management at the Artevelde University College in Ghent. I looking for a challenging business internship abroad. I have founded my own student NPO, organised multiple successful events and I also have my own one-man business. Could you please tell me more about ...

I think I have been active on LinkedIn for about three years now. In the beginning, it was just to 'have one' and I did not know how to use it. Right now, I think I have developed a professional student profile and I think LinkedIn is an important tool for a future businessman. You can go to my profile by clicking here.

On Facebook, you can find the true Nino. I have nothing to hide and I am very open-minded when looking at social media. My future employer may know who I am, who my friends are and what I am doing. Click here to go to my Facebook profile.

During my participating in the Google Digital Master Academy I had the opportunity to visit Digital first, a networking event by and for digital marketeers. My goal was to talk to as much of interesting people as possible and get their business card. Not only to find an internship but just to learn from a lot of different people with different ideas and experiences. I have also attended a networking event of ABInbev aimed students who were interested at a traineeship at the company. Networking and trainee programs are far more important than a study program. I think our education system is lacking behind and I have my own ideas of how it should be. Unfortunately, as a student, it is rather complex to bring those ideas outside but I am working on it. Nevertheless, at that event, I had the chance to talk with the vice-president of commerce and with some trainees. This was a wonderful opportunity to get to know ABInbev's way of working and to learn about their experiences in the consumable (beer) world.