Network To Success!

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Network To Success!

• Career Services, M-8
• Alliant International University

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What Is Networking?

• Developing and maintaining relationships
• Seeking out acquaintances, advice-givers,
  potential mentors and friends
• Systematically building on these relationships
• You already do it now!

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Why Network?

• Who you know is just as important as what you
  know
• Get your name out there!
• Get your foot in the door
• Build a reputation for yourself in your field

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Networking Is Reciprocal

• Your network on contacts is an information
  exchange system
• Contacts provide you with information, contacts
  and leads
• You provide contacts with information, contacts
  and leads

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How Do I Get Started?

• Take advantage of the campus of which you are a
  part
• Start looking at who you know, and identify who
  out of those contacts might be a useful resource
  to you
• Tap into your existing network

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Your Existing Network
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Sources Of Networking Informational Interviewing

• Identify someone in the field/industry in which
  you are interested
• Contact them and ask if they are willing to meet
  for an informational interview
• Prepare questions that you have regarding that
  particular field/industry
• Treat the informational interview as a
  professional job interview

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Sources Of Networking Informational Interviewing

• Upon arrival, greet the contact with a firm
  handshake and a confident smile
• During the interview, pick their brain about
  anything you would like to know regarding the
  field/industry
• Ask to leave a resume with them at the end of the
  interview
• Send a thank you letter and keep in touch!

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Sources Of Networking Professors

• Professors not only know people on-campus, but
  off-campus as well, within their field/industry
• Professors are usually members of professional
  associations within their field/industry

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How Do I Approach My Professors?

• Visit your professor during office hours
• Arrive at class early or stay a few minutes after
  class
• Explain that you are interested in the
  field/industry
• Ask What advice or suggestions do you have for
  me to gain more information?
• Ask if they know of anyone that you could
  potentially contact for an informational interview

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Sources Of Networking Clubs and Organizations

• Identify clubs/organizations on or off campus
  that relate to the field/industry in which you
  are interested
• Attend meetings to assess if this
  club/organization is something that interests you
• Become a member and attend meetings regularly

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Sources Of Networking Former Employers

• Always stay in touch with people you have worked
  with/for in the past
• Ask former employers for any contacts whom you
  can contact for informational interviews
• Check in with former employers periodically to
  see if they have new openings/leads

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Sources Of Networking Alumni

• Visit the office of alumni relations
• Ask for a directory of alumni
• Utilize alliantconnect.org
• Identify alumni working in your field/industry of
  interest
• Contact alumni and ask for an informational
  interview

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Sources Of Networking The Web

• Visit any of the popular search engines such as
  Yahoo or Google and start a search relating to
  your field/industry of interest
• Investigate websites for professional
  associations relating to your field/industry of
  interest

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Final Considerations

• Overcome shyness by making at least one new
  contact a month
• Get to know your classmates, they might have
  contacts in their networks for you
• Get out of your comfort zone
• Remember- everyone networks!