Networking

1. Networking Our World, Connected

2. What is Networking? The action or process of making use of a network of people for the exchange of information, etc., or for professional or other advantage. -Oxford English Dictionary There are lots of people who aren’t as capable, qualified, talented and nice as you, yet they are advancing simply because they connect with others and make themselves ‘visible.’ In networking, it is what you know and who knows you!

3. Everyone knows other people and therefore has a network. However, networking implies movement beyond one’s immediate network and involves tapping into other people’snetworks.

4. Why Network? 300-1,000 job applicants 10-30 screened interviews 3-5 second interviews 2-3 finalists 1 hired You need to enlist any and all resources to get noticed and hired!

5. The Goals of Networking Build relationships that are mutually beneficial Gather information Increase your exposure Obtain referrals Open doors

6. Is Not • A two-way street • A communication skill used in everyday life • A learned behavior that becomes second nature once you do it • Only effective if used and used properly • A short-term fix to an employment challenge • Just for finding an internship/job • Merely handing out resumes • Connecting only with people in your field and friends • The number of contacts you make • Superficial socializing • Asking for an unreasonable favor

7. Employer Advantages You • Create a pool of qualified candidates before an opening occurs • Reduce time spent finding prospective employees • Lower recruitment costs • Enhance college recruitment efforts • Learn about new trends, events or facts • Some people/organizations enjoy giving back and helping others! • Keep professionals in your field informed • Get leads on opportunities that are never advertised • Exposure to terminology specific to your field • Improve your interviewing/questioning skills • Build confidence

8. Build a network when you don’t need it, so that it is therewhen you do.

9. Who Makes Up Your Network

10. Determining Your Network • Personal: people you don’t encounter in your employment capacity • Family, friends and other peers • Professional: people you encounter at work, who can comment on your work, who understand technical details of your profession • Faculty, staff, supervisors, co-workers, conferences • Organizational: overlaps with professional network • Organizational affiliations, community groups, professional groups, alumni • Opportunistic: chance connections, accidental conversations • Clubs, sports, commuting, waiting in line, restaurants, social events

11. Preparing For Your Network • Self Assessment • Describe yourself, review experience, update resume/CV • Determine exactly what you can do for an employer • Practice your professional behavior and questioning skills • Brush up on proper etiquette • Begin dressing for success • Create networking cards • Monitor your online presence

12. What to Wear—women • Matching solid-color, 2-piece suit (either pant suit or skirt suit), preferably a dark color such as navy or gray; or tailored dress with jacket • Tailored fit, knee-length hem with no extreme slits • Shirt with collar, or tailored blouse (no ruffles or lace), white or light color; no cleavage showing • Dark, closed-toed shoes with 1-2” heel • Minimal jewelry, make-up or scent • No visible piercings or tattoos

13. What to Wear—men • Matching solid-color, 2-piece suit, preferably a dark color such as navy or gray • Tailored fit, including pants length • Shirt with collar, white or light color • Tie required – no extreme prints or patterns • Dark-colored shoes, leather or leather-look, well-maintained and polished • Dress socks, dark in color • Minimal jewelry or scent • No visible piercings or tattoos

15. Everyone is an opportunityandopportunity is everywhere

16. Where Do You Network? In classes and at work Social events—formal and informal Professional, academic and volunteer events Formal networking functions While traveling—business or pleasure Career fairs, conferences, seminars Social and professional clubs/organizations Online social and professional communities Everywhere!

17. Networking Functions • Dress appropriately and be well groomed • Smile • Firm handshake • Stand tall; No fidgeting or other distracting behavior • Continuously make eye contact—60-70% of the time • Don’t mistake hors d’oeuvres for dinner • Mingle and know when and how to politely walk away • Engage in conversation, not a sales pitch • Be curious, ask open-ended questions that yield more than a yes/no answer • Actively listen and follow-up as appropriate • Use proper grammar; refrain from verbal pauses • Avoid politics, religion and personal questions • Remember people love to talk about themselves!

18. Cold Conversation Starters • Hi, how are you? Wow, can you believe this weather? Gas prices? • Hi, I’m _______ , with _______ • Are you here for the conference? • So what brought you _______? • … Really, what do you do? • How did you become interested in _______? • I like your _______

19. Informational Interviews • Best way to gain knowledge about an area of work • The interview • You are the interviewer • Do research on interviewee, career field and company • Prepare questions in advance • Introduce yourself (elevator speech) with name drop • Purpose is to gather information and make contact • No bait and switch • Seek at least two referrals • Observe time limit • Leave your networking card • Follow up • Send a hand-written or typed thank you note within 24 hours. No e-mail

20. II Questions How did you get to your current position? What advice would you give someone interested in your position? What types of positions/employers do you recommend? What common career paths could your position lead to? What journals/professional organizations/meetings/events do you recommend? What concerns do you have about the field/organization?/What do you think about … (hot topic/relevant current event) Can you recommend two people that I contact for additional insight? I value your opinion, would you review my resume/CV?

21. Conference Networking • Pre-planning • Determine who will be there that you want to meet • What do you want to express to them? • At the conference • Talk to speakers, people sitting around you • Make lunch/dinner plans with new people • Get friends, profs, etc. to introduce you • Make eye contact and smile; Don’t interrupt heavy conversation • Follow-up • Take notes on what comes next • Send related papers to contacts and seek theirs • Read their work and share comments • Seek joint research/work opportunities

22. Organization is the keyto success

23. Organizing Your Network • Establish a database or spreadsheet to track key information • Contact names, titles, company names, addresses, etc. • Phone and fax #’s, e-mail addresses, dates of communication • What was discussed and what you learned • Organize business cards for contacts • Systematically file resumes, cover letters, employment applications, notes and memos • Online networking sites usually track information for you

24. Professional version of facebook More than 250 million users from 200 countries Post an e-resumé, with recommendations Explore career paths, search for jobs, research employers Join interest organizations and groups Make ‘insider’ connections Get introduced to others through your network Inform others of your endeavors Extras—blog, Twitter, WordPress, ask questions, reading list

25. Evaluate Your Networking Strategies • What medium works for you? • Speed networking, online, classes, social or professional setting • What needs tweaking? • Public speaking, eye contact, elevator speech • What additional kinds of resources/help do you need? • Resume, networking cards, clothing • What contacts/groups are particularly helpful? • Professional, educational, religious, social

26. Keys to Success Start networking with those you are most comfortable with Belong and make acquaintances before you need them Keep your network alive Seek advice, not help Share ways you can contribute when networking Practice makes perfect Be prepared—questions, business cards, resume/CV Thank those who are particularly helpful

27. Never Stop Networking People will enter and leave your network Some contacts will add value, some will have no impact You are always being observed so put the best you forward To be effective at networking you must be politely curious about others Networking works best when it is a two-way street—give and receive When you help others find opportunities, the same will happen to you

28. You can make more friends in two months by becoming really interested in other people, than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. -Dale Carnegie

29. Start Networking Today It’s Your Career, So Develop It! • Interact with students in with other majors • Meet faculty in your department and related fields • Introduce yourself to someone new in this session