In our Role Model survey of college students and recent grads, 72% of respondents said they would have chosen different schools, majors or careers if not for their role models. A total of 82% said role models had shaped their thinking.

Role models clearly make a difference when it comes to careers. Sixty percent said their role models influenced them in “selecting career paths and opportunities, while 45% said that role models helped them with “choosing a major.”

Ways role models helped included:

• Encouraging me to go for my dreams
• Helping broaden my creativity
• Developing into a leader

Not sure where to find a role model?

Look around, they can be the people closest to you. Most said their role models were ”teachers or professors” (46%) or “parents” (41%). Some cited role models such as “friends” (19%), “family members” (15%) and “manager from job/internship” (15%).

So if you are undecided about your career path, or need some guidance, seek out people who are doing what you are interested in and ask them for some insight or advice. More likely than not they will be glad to help out!

Take our next survey on Job Search and win a $50 VISA gift card!

As a careers site, we attract thousands of employers looking for entry-level talent. They post jobs and internships on experience.com. We are now set up to alert you of these opportunities as they hit our site. Follow us on Twitter at @hiringbeat to get the latest scoop on new jobs and internships!

If you are located in the Boston or RTP (NC) areas, we are looking for current college students to join our Sales Intern program. We pioneered it this summer with help from two summer interns and are getting ready to launch with an expanded team this fall.

If you are entrepreneurial, outgoing and up for a challenge, this is the program for you to obtain real world experience and hone your sales/presentation skills, whether you plan on a sales career or not.

Apply to our Sales Internship Program

And here are testimonials from our two summer Interns:
“I have had a great experience this summer working in the Experience Sales Intern Program. For someone who is unsure about what they want to do for a career, learning sales is a transferrable skill that can be taken to almost every aspect of business. I have always considered myself an extroverted and social person, but I became much more comfortable speaking to professionals after calling potential clients in sales role. Also, having the ability to work with a small and dedicated team of professionals who wanted to hear my input provided me with a very productive and refreshing experience. Having your voice heard and being treated as an important part of a team is a rare thing to find with an internship and something that makes this program unique.”

“My internship with Experience has truly been an experience. Following extensive client outreach, I’ve acquired the skills to be effective throughout each stage of prospecting. I’m able to execute the meticulous preparation that precedes any successful sale. I’ve learned to listen…and adapt accordingly. Now, I can confidently attest to my proficiency in both resourcefulness and perception. Despite the program’s initial emphasis on sales, I’ve gained invaluable knowledge regarding all aspects of business. My recent exposure to marketing, finance, design, and customer relations have expanded my professional horizons beyond any previous expectations. Experience is a great place to work. More importantly, it’s a great place to learn.”

In our most recent survey, 53% of Gen Y respondents told us they were intimidated by networking. In-person networking, which was cited as the most successful method in getting jobs or internships (62%), was also the most difficult (79%).

Students and recent grads said they were intimidated by “not knowing what to say” (63%) and “disliking awkward conversations” (61%).

To combat these fears, here are some suggestions:

Challenge #1: “Not knowing what to say”

Everyone says to network to find a job, yet they also advise you not to ask for a job directly. So I am not surprised that students and grads may be confused. Try some of these approaches next time you are tongue-tied:

To a networking contact:
Do you know of any companies in your industry that are growing or doing well?
Are there specific positions in your industry that are in more demand?

To a recruiter/hiring manager at a career fair:
What types of positions are you are recruiting for?
What kinds of majors do you prefer for those type of positions?
Are there parts of your company that are growing faster than others?

Challenge #2: Disliking awkward conversations

Try to disarm an awkward situation with humor or a shared interest or hobby. If the networking contact or recruiter is into sports, say something nice about his/her team (”too bad about the Pats losing Tedy!”). Or try to get to know the person (”are you from the Boston area?”). If you can find some common ground or interest, it will make the interaction more comfortable, and pretty soon you will realize that “networking” is really just meeting new people.