NEW - Tufts Career Advisory Network

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1 N E T W O R K I N G & I N F O R M AT I O N A L I N T E R V I E W I N G WHAT is Networking? Networking is a process of asking people you know (and the people they know) for information, advice, ideas or support as you plan and pursue your career goals. 1. Determine your goal(s) What kind of information or advice do you need? 2. Identify appropriate people to contact Who has this information for you? 3. Schedule meetings or conversations, preferably in person. Make sure to do your homework before meeting. WHAT s the point? Get information about a career, job, company, or industry that interests you. Brainstorm with knowledgeable individuals about your career plans. Let others know of your goals and enlist their help. HOW do I do it? Choose your communication channel: face-to-face, , letter, or phone. One way to begin the process is to write first and then follow up by phone. The ideal scenario is to meet in person. Vary your approach according to the needs of each situation and to accommodate your contact. WHEN should I network? Every day. You are limited only by your creativity and confidence. Let discretion be your guide. WHERE should I network? You ll find it more interesting to meet at someone s workplace; however, it s imperative to be flexible and accommodate your contact s preferences. WHO is a networking contact? Virtually everyone. Begin by reviewing your personal network (family, friends, fellow students, neighbors); professional contacts (managers, internship supervisors, colleagues, faculty, advisors); and people you know from volunteer or community activities (clubs and sports, religious and cultural organizations). Make sure to use the Tufts Career Advisory Network (Tufts CAN) to connect with alumni who have volunteered to share their experience with you. NEW - Tufts Career Advisory Network The first university-wide network for all undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. More than 9,000 alumni advisors have volunteered to share their knowledge of careers, industries, employers, and graduate schools. ETIQUETTE a brief introduction and request time to meet or speak Carefully craft your subject line: Question from Tufts senior, Referral from Amy Smith Don t ask YES/NO questions (e.g., Are you hiring? ) Proof for perfection. Assume your will be printed, passed around, or filed Don t expect immediate responses; follow up in a week or so by phone/ Customize Your Approach Review sample s from Tufts students to contacts in the Tufts Career Advisory Network (Tufts CAN) requesting informational interviews. Note that these are not canned, generic approaches, but customized to the alum s background and the student s interests. Dowling Hall, 7th Floor, Medford, MA 02155

2 A N e w L o o k A t N e t w o r k i n g THE MYTHS You must be extroverted to succeed You need to have connections You should talk to people at senior levels THE TRUTH Networking is a process of collecting useful information. This is something you do everyday at Tufts. Networking is simply a research assignment, homework that will get you an A in the world of work. To excel at this research, you ll use skills that are quite familiar. For example, you ll use communication skills, just as you do in the classroom, your campus activities, and your social life. We re talking about networking as career research; however, you also network for other purposes. Think about it. When you want to find a good restaurant in Boston, or if you need a mechanic, or simply want the low-down on which professor to study with, what do you do? You ask other people. They give you information. The information helps you make smart decisions as you explore careers, industries, employers, or graduate schools. Remember: Like tennis or golf, networking will improve with practice. Try a warm-up exercise. Read the steps below and think of someone who may have useful career information for you. It could be a professor, your roommate s mom, a member of the Tufts Career Advisory Network (database of some 9,000 alumni who have volunteered to share career information with you) or someone who gave a lecture to your class. Develop your own goal, prepare to exchange information, and keep up the momentum by maintaining memorability. THIS PROCESS IS A G.E.M. (Goal, Exchange of Information, Memorability) GOAL For every individual, you need a goal. Think about information that will be useful in your career search. How did you get started? Which skills are most valuable in this field? Are there courses you d recommend? Write the name of an individual and your goal. Decide how you will make contact, depending on your familiarity with your target audience. Texting is fine for your sorority sister who graduated last year, but not for alumni you ve never met. Tip: Be specific. What kind of information would help you? Aim for a face-to-face meeting, if possible.

3 Tip: Never ask for a job! This is the surest way to sabotage a conversation because most people don t have jobs to offer at any given point in time. If you ask this fatal question, the answer is likely to be no, and you re now dealing with an awkward pause. Instead, ask open-ended questions, and you ll keep the conversation on a positive note, build rapport with your contact, and learn useful information that supports your career search. These two golden questions are guaranteed to trigger valuable information for you. If you were in my position, with an interest in, what steps would you be taking? Based on my interest in, who else should I be talking to? Research and relationship building tactics are essential to support your overarching goal: jobs and internships. Each step of your research project gets you closer to that goal and expands your network. If an individual does know of a job and your connection is good, you ll hear about it. EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION What will you say, when you re asked, Tell me about yourself or Why are you interested in? Be ready with a brief, carefully crafted statement that explains your background and why/how it relates to this individual s career experience. Since you re in charge of the meeting (you asked for it), you will also be expected to pose some smart questions. Do your homework and be prepared. Tip: Do not pitch. There s no target (job) right now. There may be in the future, so behave like a potential candidate and consider this a professional meeting in every way, from attire to conduct. MEMORABILITY How will you maintain contact so you ll be remembered? If you re told, we re not hiring now, it s not up to someone else to track you down if that changes in the future. You need to follow -up to stay top-of-mind. Your first follow-up should be a thank you note, by or handwritten. If your writing is legible, the latter creates a more memorable impression. (Why not buy Tufts note cards for corresponding with alumni?) Future communication should be carefully planned so that it is judiciously timed, informative rather than favor-seeking, and based on mutual career interests. What s next? Make an appointment with Career Services to customize the GEM model for your own networking. For more helpful networking information, visit

4 I N F O R M AT I O N A L I N T E R V I E W S : O N E W AY T O N E T W O R K 80% of available jobs never get advertised Some 70 80% of all job seekers find their positions through referrals Some 9,000 Tufts alumni have joined the NEW Tufts Career Advisory Network, indicating a willingness to do informational interviews An Informational Interview is a conversation with someone who can give you an insider s perspective on a specific career, employer, or industry. It s also an opportunity to brainstorm with knowledgeable individuals about your career plans, let others know of your interests, and enlist the help of those in your targeted field. It is NOT a time to ask for a job or internship. If a job develops, you ll hear about it if you ve impressed your contact with your knowledge and enthusiasm and you ve stayed in touch via thank you notes, updates, and continued communication. Why would anyone want to meet with me? And how will I ask them? People who enjoy their work like to talk about it. Most are willing to discuss their jobs and careers with you as long as you re respectful of their busy schedules. An effective approach is to first and schedule a convenient time to talk. A face-to-face meeting is optimal; however, phone and are good options due to geography and time constraints. In your first , introduce yourself and indicate the source of your referral. Did you get the individual s name from the Tufts Career Advisory Network? A professor? A friend? Remember Rule #1 never ask for a job. Request minutes to ask questions and get advice. As a young professional, you should have your calendar handy, respond with flexibility to accommodate your contact s schedule, and ask if it would help to send along your resume as background information for your discussion. Before the Meeting Do your homework. You ll be speaking with busy people so make the most of their time. Don t ask questions that are readily answered at the organization s website. Instead, demonstrate knowledge through conversation and questions that reflects what you learned specifically about this organization or industry. This might involve a recent article in a professional journal, a change in leadership, a competitor s product line, or entrance into a new market. How to get the inside scoop? Search online resources. Read news periodicals and trade journals. See the Career Services homepage and follow links to Careers & Majors to research career paths. Even though this is not a job interview, prepare diligently and present yourself impressively. You never know the possibilities that might emerge from an Informational Interview. At the Meeting First impressions count. Dress as if it were an actual job interview. Be prompt, come with a list of questions, and bring something for note-taking. If you clearly show your interest and your research, you ll create a favorable impression. Thus, your contact will be more likely to remember you if/when a job becomes available. Nervous? Keep in mind that you and your contact share something in common: the Tufts experience, the individual who referred you, or a mutual career interest. Take the initiative in conducting the interview; you asked for it. Come prepared with open-ended questions to create a good discussion. Avoid questions that can be answered with one-word responses. Don t ask for a job! It s politically incorrect as well as counterproductive; most people don t have jobs for you. They have valuable information, advice, and contacts. Don t overstay. If you asked for minutes, be sensitive to that timing. However, be prepared to stay longer if your contact indicates an interest/willingness to extend the meeting. Remember to say thank you.

5 After the Meeting Immediately send a thank you note, either or hardcopy. Be as specific as possible; for example, citing particularly helpful advice from your contact or new conclusions or decisions you ve reached as a result of your meeting. Use your new information to further tailor your resume, cover letter, and job search techniques. Keep accurate records and find reasons to stay in touch with your contacts so you re top of mind when they learn about a position. Sample Questions The following are some questions that you might ask in an Informational Interview. Select a dozen or so that would be most helpful for you; do not expect to ask all these questions. Career Questions Which jobs and experiences have led you to your present position? Which have been most helpful? Would you describe the tasks or projects that occupy most of your day? Which skills do you use on a daily basis? Which particular skills or talents are most essential to be effective in your job? How would you describe your environment and the people with whom you work? From your perspective, what are the challenges of working in this field? Which college courses and experiences have proven most valuable in your work? How important are grades/gpa for obtaining a job in this field? What obligations does your employer expect of you outside of the work week? Are there organizations you are expected to join? Are there social commitments? How has your job affected your lifestyle? Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about your field? Are there trends or changes in your industry that you foresee? How does a person advance in your field? What is a typical career path in this field or organization? How does your employer support your professional development? Could you describe an entry-level job and its functions in your organization/company? What other kinds of organizations hire people to perform the functions you do here? What kinds of experiences would you encourage for someone pursuing a career in this field? Will my education prepare me for a job in your field? If not, how can I improve my candidacy? Job Search Questions How did you go about finding your job? Which strategies would you recommend for getting a job in your field? Which skills are the most important to highlight during my job search? Why did you decide to work for this organization? Which criteria would you recommend for evaluating employers? With the information you have about my education, skills, and experience, what other fields or jobs would you suggest I research? If you feel comfortable and it seems appropriate: Would you mind taking a look at my resume? Two Golden Questions Who else should I be talking to? May I use your name in contacting them? If you were in my position, what steps would you be taking?

6 S A M P L E N E T W O R K I N G E M A I L S SUBJECT LINE: Tufts English Major Interested in Business Dear Mr/Ms. (Name), After reading The Wall Street Journal article about your success in advising entrepreneurial ventures, I researched your firm to learn more about your work for startup companies. As an English major studying entrepreneurial leadership, I m exploring careers that combine my interests in language and business. I found your name in the Tufts Career Advisory Network, and I would appreciate the opportunity to speak or meet with you to ask your advice. From your online bio, I see that you were also an English major. Since I have three more semesters here at Tufts, I m interested in any courses you might recommend to help me prepare for an entry level business career where I can use my writing skills. I ll call you in about a week to follow-up. In the meantime, if you d like to reach me, I welcome an or call ( ). SUBJECT LINE: Referral from Prof. Smith at Tufts Dear Mr/Ms. (Name), Prof. Smith, my academic advisor at Tufts, suggested I contact you in connection with my interest in advertising. I m exploring boutique firms, and Prof. Smith recommended you as a helpful resource. I ve been visiting your website to learn more about your clients and your advertising campaigns. Hearing about your career choices and your agency experience would help clarify my goals for the coming year. I wonder if it might be possible to meet you, at your convenience, for a brief discussion. Thank you for considering my request. Thank you for considering my request. SUBJECT LINE: Career question from Tufts biotech major Dear Mr/Ms. (Name), Thank you for your willingness to share your experiences in consulting through the Tufts Career Advisory Network. As I prepare to graduate in May with a biotechnology degree, I am particularly interested in how your similar academic background has helped you in the life science industry. Would it be possible to send a few questions to you? I know you re busy, and appreciate your willingness to consider my request. Thank you for being part of Tufts CAN. It s helpful to read about your career path.

7 S A M P L E N E T W O R K I N G E M A I L S SUBJECT LINE: Follow-up from Tufts Finance Panel Dear Mr./Ms. (Name), Thank you for speaking at Tufts last night to explain your career path in financial services. I would appreciate an opportunity to follow-up with you at your convenience to get some ideas on how to best prepare and market myself for an entry-level position in investment management. With your responsibilities in Client Service and MIS, you offer a broad view that would help me better understand relationship management as well as the technical underpinnings of the investment process. I m particularly interested in AB&C s client mix of families, small businesses, and non-profits. Thank you for considering my request. If you would like to follow up with me, you can reach me at or name.name@tufts.edu. SUBJECT LINE: Tufts freshman with Civil Engineering questions Dear Mr./Ms. (Name), I m a first year student at Tufts and I found your name in the Tufts Career Advisory Network where I was looking for civil engineers. One of the counselors in Career Services suggested that I alumni and conduct short interviews to explore possible majors and careers. Civil engineering has interested me since my sophomore year in high school. Now, as I prepare to declare a major, I would like to speak with people working in the field. I am wondering if you might respond via to a few questions or if you would prefer that I call you. Thank you for being part of Tufts CAN. Tufts University, Class of XXXX FOLLOW-UP Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, Mr./ Ms. (Name). I appreciate your help and look forward to learning more about your career through the following questions: How did you decide to major in Civil Engineering? What type of internships would you recommend? What is a typical career track for a Civil Engineer? Which skills do you find most valuable in your work? If you have other ideas or suggestions, I would love to hear them. Thank you for taking the time to help., Class of XXXX