Natalie Levandusky is an adjunct professor of business administration in the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics. Below, she offers advice for students interested in HR, networking advice and how to contact her to make a professional connection.

What advice do you have for students looking to enter your field?

My advice for anyone, including students, entering the HR field is to be “all-inclusive.” If you pigeonhole your options, you may never find what you really like in the HR world.  If given the opportunity, try it all: recruitment and staffing, compensation, benefits, training and development, HRIS and so on. 

Why is networking so important in the job search?

Networking shows that you have initiative! Professors, managers, coaches and mentors can teach you the skills and give you the knowledge you need to success in the field. You must have the initiative to go out into the world and attack networking! Communicate verbally; actually talk to people you don’t know, attend in person events you haven’t gone to before, travel if you can – you never know who you are going to meet and where a conversation can lead you.

How do you think students can stand out when contacting working professionals like yourself?

Prepare. I always tell my students to be prepared to discuss something unique. Do some research: what current events can you discuss that may be relevant? What do you know about the company or job that shows you are prepared to take on that role? Have smart conversations; ask questions you can build more conversation on.

Are you willing to offer yourself as a point of contact for students looking to expand their professional network?

Yes! Students can email me at natlevan@udel.edu or connect with me on LinkedIn.

This blog post is written by our Division of Student Life student intern Rachel Ornstein.