Making Professional Connections

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Making Professional Connections

• Building relationships to explore and launch your
  career

Presented by
Veitch Student Center 827.3631 careers.ucr.edu
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What were going to do

• Establish why connections are important
• Identify your current connections
• Discover ways to build new connections
• Create a professional impression
• Learn professional phone/email etiquette
• Practice your personal approach
• Recognize common mistakes

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Why make connections?
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How to get started
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vY9VUqB7wQpY
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Start with who you know!
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Attend events!
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Focusing your connections

• Student Organizations
• LinkedIn
• Professional Associations
• Campus Departments

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Youre a natural
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Setting the tone
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vKiw7hdF_Af4
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Easy first steps

• Conservative email address
• Professional outgoing message
• Neutral virtual presence
• Create a calling card

Sara Cortez B.S. Business Administration Universi
ty of California, Riverside 123 Canyon Crest,
Apt. A 951.827.1234 Riverside, CA 92507
scortez_at_gmail.com
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The email intro

• Your professor has given you the name and email
  address for an UCR alumna working in the field of
  your dreams. What is the appropriate way to
  introduce yourself via email?

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Whats the difference?

• Dear Ms. Lee
• I am a junior majoring in History at the
  University of California, Riverside. Professor
  Adison suggested I get in touch with you
  regarding my interest in the preservation of
  local historical districts.
• Although I am not currently looking for a job, I
  am very interested in learning all I can about
  typical career paths in this field and what
  skills I might need to develop. I would greatly
  appreciate 20 to 30 minutes of your time to ask
  you a few questions about your current position
  and the challenges/rewards involved.
• Thank you for your consideration. I look
  forward to contacting you to arrange a time.
• Sincerely,
• Allison Harris, UCR History 2009

• Hi Clara!
• My name is Allison Harris and Im a junior
  majoring in History at UC Riverside.
• It would be really cool to meet you and learn
  about your career path. It would be really nice
  if I can get 15 to 20 minutes of your time.
  Well, looking forward for your reply. -- Ali
  H.
• Undergraduate, UCR HistoryTo accomplish great
  things, we must dream as well as act.
• The unexamined life is not worth living

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The phone call

• You call the person your counselor referred you
  to regarding a potential internship opportunity.
  The person actually answers the phone AND has a
  few minutes to answer your questions. What do
  you ask?

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The networking event
http//www.youtube.com/watch?vXuM0KtW73WU
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Conversation starters

• Clues from the nametag
• Compliment
• Connection to the place, host or event
• Current events (e.g. Olympics)
• Tip Get them to do all the talking

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Lets practice
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Keep in touch

• Thank you note
• Progress emails
• Related articles
• Holiday greetings

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Common pitfalls

• Lack of action (aka analysis paralysis)
• Too informal too soon
• Lack of focus
• Etiquette G.A.P.S.
• Ask for too much
• No follow through
• Forget to have fun

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Thank you!
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(No Transcript)
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Career Center

• Additional Career Center workshops to
• help you with your career success
• Beginning and Advanced Resume Writing
• Internship Orientations
• Beginning and Advanced Job Search
• Interview Skills
• Special Seminars with Employer Presenters

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Career Center

• Location Veitch Student Center (next to
  Health Center)
• Hours Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• except Wed. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Web Site careers.ucr.edu
• Individual counseling appointments available by
  calling
• [phone]
• Drop-In Hours Mon. thru Fri.
• 10 a.m. to 12 noon
• 130 p.m. to 430 p.m.