What is Networking? It is the process of developing a list/collection of people you can call on for help with different aspects of your job search. Your network should include people who are willing to give you information about their specific career field and job opportunities available within their organization. How important is it? The volume of resumes employers receive for a job position can be overwhelming. Networking can help you in that you can cite the individual who referred you in your cover letter and give yourself some added advantage. Your contact(s) may give you information about positions that have not been posted yet. You get a head start on the application process. Another important aspect is that you can gain valuable insight into a profession, learn about the career path and the pros and cons of the job function and the employer.
Getting Started Group your contacts: organize your contacts into groups such as employers, faculty, classmates, alumni, family, friends etc. Make sure you have full contact information about each person: title, organization, email address, phone number. Define the purpose for contacting: this could vary depending on where you are in the job search process. It could be to let them know you are actively looking for a full-time job/internship or it could be to let them know that you are interested in a specific job position in their organization. It could also be the case that you need more information about the career field or company before making a decision. Identify yourself: before you have a conversation with someone, you need to identify your skills, interests, strengths and weaknesses. Think about your accomplishments and professional goals. This will make it easier for your contact to steer you in a direction.
What to say? It s good to be prepared with a brief introduction of yourself. Develop a one minute commercial of yourself that highlights your background and the reason for reaching out to your contact. Give specific examples of why you are interested in the job position. This is useful whether you re making contact through phone, email or in-person. Practice your introduction in front of a mirror or friend before approaching someone. Be careful not to take too much of your contact s time. They might lose interest. Tell them only what they need to know. If you are writing an email, keep it short and to-the-point. As one of the questions, request names of other people you can contact or who may be able to help you better with the situation. When meeting in-person, ask for a business card and inquire whether your contact would mind if you kept in touch. Later, follow up with a thank you note to express your gratitude to your contact for taking the time to meet with you.
Sample Questions General questions about the career field: What are the various jobs available in this field? How much demand is there for people in this career? What are the typical entry-level job titles and functions? What skills are needed to be successful in this industry? Questions about the employer: What products or services are in the development stage now? What kinds of assignments might I expect in the first six months/one year on the job? What types of training does your organization provide? Questions about your contact s job: What are your duties and responsibilities? What are some of the most challenging situations you have faced in this job? What do you find most satisfying? Least satisfying? With which other departments or management levels do you regularly interact? Questions about preparation for the career field: What educational preparation do you recommend? Is prior experience necessary? If so, what kind?
Contd Questions about the organization: What do you like most about this company? What kind of behaviors are rewarded? How would you describe the atmosphere at the company? What values are most treasured here? Questions about opportunities for advancement What are the advancement opportunities / career path? How long does it take to move from one level to the next? What is the typical career path? What is the highest position that someone can hold? Seeking general advice and referrals: Do you know of other people whom I can contact? What kind of experience would you encourage for anybody pursuing a career in this field? How would you assess the experience I ve had so afar in terms of the requirements for this field? How do you suggest I should go about the job search process?
Developing Your Network Online: we are all extensive users of social media. It s a great place to connect with people who are in the job field of your interest. LinkedIn is especially built for making and maintaining professional relationships. You can look up recruiters and hiring managers from any company and connect with them to inquire about job positions and/or internships. What s better? It s free! Career fairs: this is the best opportunity to meet with representatives from various companies. The advantage is that they are all under one roof. Although you may not get to meet hiring managers, you can make contacts who can forward your resume to the right person in the company. Just make sure to follow up with them on the process after the career fair. Sign up on career websites: when you register and put up your resume on various career websites, it is accessible by all employers who post jobs on the website. This can be a great way for an employer to find you and contact you regarding suitable job positions. Friends, family and faculty: there s always your friends parents, extended family and faculty to reach out to. A visit to the Career Development Center may also be useful. You never know who knows whom!
Keeping track of your applications It is important for you to keep track of which companies you have contacted, what information you have sent them and when you sent it. Below is a sample. Company name Title/position applied for Resume/Cover letter (date sent) Follow up call/email (date) Interview date and time Thank you note (date sent) 2 nd follow up call (date) Final answer/ decision
Social Media Image Facebook and Twitter are part of your daily lives. But your social media presence can have an adverse effect on your job search. Many employers have reported not extending offers to candidates who either did not have a social media presence, or had a presence with an unprofessional appearance. It is an extension of your resume and your personality. Don t wait until after you ve applied for jobs to make amends. Be proactive and optimize your Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn accounts to help your job search. Personal branding matters! Social media is everywhere and since there s no escaping, you might as well learn to leverage it best for your personal brand. If you re looking for a job in a specific field, you can start a blog about it and mention it in your resume. Employers will be impressed by your initiative. Facebook and Twitter pages appear high on search results, so opt for privacy settings on these networks. Register on LinkedIn. It s a social media network for professionals. Don t wait until after graduation to start networking, it s best to start now.
Clean it up! Photos: make sure your profile picture is clear and not unprofessional. Also, untag yourself from photos /posts you think are inappropriate. Risqué pictures from a club, or any pictures with alcohol in the background, are good places to start. Keep it to yourself : don t announce interviews, raises or new jobs. Even if you got an offer, don t announce it online until you clear it with your employer-to-be. Don t bad mouth your current or previous employer: just like in an interview, keep your rants about your boss or company to yourself. If hiring managers see that you're willing to trash a colleague online they assume you'll do it to them, too. Language: while blogging, tweeting or commenting, be aware of your language. Make sure there is no profanity or anything discriminatory.
Thank You