Networking is an intimidating yet essential activity for anyone pursuing a career.

Iona College students have a myriad of career development workshops, dinners and events at their disposal where they can meet mentors, obtain invaluable advice and apply to internships that are available to help kick-start their career.

The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development offers networking and career advice to ensure that you thrive in your desired industry.

The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development is located on the second floor of Spellman Hall. The center helps students with career building, resumes writing and cover letter writing, as well as teaching students about professional etiquette.

Visiting the center will help rid you of any of your insecurities, and make sure that you are ready to take on any interview that comes your way.

If you would like help building a resume, cover letter or need help setting up your profile on GaelLink, students are more than welcome to stop by during walk-in hours and ask for help. Private appointments are also available.

There are two basic things you need before finding or applying to an internship: a resume and a cover letter. Emphasize on your skills, abilities, education, knowledge, accomplishments and experience in your resume.

Part of networking is emphasizing your skills, even if it’s just in a resume.

Always carry around a few extra resumes or business cards to give to people you meet. You never know the connections you’re going to make.

Make sure that your resume is up to date and well-organized. Use bullet points, bolded words and italics to make sure that your skills stand out.

A cover letter is almost always required along with your resume. It’s a strong writing sample that should be free of spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. It should explain why you would be a great fit for the position you’re applying for.

Keep your cover letter short, sweet, and to the point. Do not clutter your cover letter with information that doesn’t pertain to your qualifications for the specific position you are applying to.

It’s also useful to use terms that are relevant to the industry you’re applying to work in.

Always dress your best. You never know who you’re going to run into, so make sure that you’re always looking your best.

If you do find yourself meeting someone who could potentially jump start your ideal career, try connecting with the person by matching your experience, and showing your passion for the field. Try to sell yourself in way that the person will remember you.

“Follow up is necessary,” said Devon Harris-Moore, senior career development specialist at the Gerri Ripp Center. “You want to be able to keep their professional connection. Keep the relationship going and intact because that’s going to have a more lasting impact versus a one time thing or conversation.”

See if the person would be willing to meet up or grab coffee in the weeks following. This is a great way to keep connections.

Try to get some kind of contact information from the person, like a phone number or e-mail. This will help keep your connection strong, and make contacting them in the future easier.

Another way to make connections is by having a LinkedIn account. Many students have obtained offers from companies directly through the business-friendly social media site. The site is great tool to network outside of the school’s connections.

The Gerri Ripp Center for Career Development will hold its ninth annual Meet a Career Mentor Dinner Nov. 13.

This is where students have the chance build connections and meet with professionals and executives workings in many different fields including journalism, marketing, speech pathology, criminal justice and many more.

If you find yourself having trouble with any of this, try utilizing GaelLink. This is an Iona job network, created by the Gerri Ripp Center, where students can apply for jobs, internships and RSVP to any event the center holds.

The career center holds many events throughout the semester where students have the opportunity to talk to business professionals working in different industries.

Recently, the Hagan School of Business sponsored an event where business professionals from MGK, Cartoon Network and Accuweather, attended a dinner session with students and shared their stories and advice.

Don’t be afraid to seek out advice, and talk to people. Even if you find networking intimidating, it could be the thing that helps get you your dream job.