On Nov. 11, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Honor Society partnered with Career Services in the College of Liberal Arts to host its networking navigation event. The event aimed to equip students with tips they can utilize while preparing for job hunting.
As the on-campus political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha focuses on providing leadership opportunities and academic excellence for both graduate and undergraduate students in political science and other related fields.
Chantal Johnson, Career Services specialist, was the event's special guest, providing tips to better students' LinkedIn presences and overall networking strategies.
Johnson shared that a common mistake she has seen is students walking away before giving networking a fair chance, missing out on an invaluable opportunity. She shared that although networking can be intimidating and students might be unsure of what to lead with, breaking the ice is a great way to build confidence in those situations.
"Knowing that there is no wrong question when you're talking to professionals, it is literally you ripping off the bandaid first and just putting yourself out there," Johnson said.
For students feeling overwhelmed about starting a professional career, Johnson reassures students that not everything has to be figured out. She shared that trial and error is a critical part of finding what suits an individual.
"Your major does not equal your career. It is OK to venture out and try new things. Ask the hard questions and advocate for yourself", she said. "If something does not feel like the right fit, you find something that is a better fit. I feel like once you start working and you're not dreading going to work, you found the career for yourself."
Regardless of major, Johnson said that networking and workshops are an important part of the career journey.
"You have to build relationships and connections in order to figure out if you're going into a career path that is truly speaking to your interests," Johnson said.
For political science majors, however, Johnson encourages students to make connections and figure out what they need to prepare for in order to shape future endeavors.
"Considering all the things that they will potentially have a hand in, depending on where they want to go, is specifically important for them, because a lot of their work will come from people who have gone before them and given them the blueprint," Johnson said.
Chris Armstrong, senior in computer science and political science, is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha. He shared his biggest takeaway from the event.
"LinkedIn is all about putting yourself out there and pushing past your boundaries and trying to expose yourself to as many people as possible," Armstrong said.
Armstrong had an idea of LinkedIn before the event because of his previous courses like career preparation, but he said the event clarified some things. He shared that after the event, he feels he has a better idea of how LinkedIn works, as it pertains to his profile picture and what to add to his about section.
Pi Sigma Alpha shared that elections for the treasurer position will be held in spring 2026.
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