Networking

1
Networking

• Janet Willis
• Careers Service
• Abdul Shama Enterprise Rent-A-Car

2
DID YOU KNOW?

• Only 9 of people get their jobs through
  responding to adverts

3
Where Are All The Jobs ?
Adverts
Agencies / Headhunters
Contacts
Internal moves promotions
4
Reactive Job Search Strategies

• Know where to look
• Newspapers local national
• Specialist scientific journals
• Professional body trade journals directories
• Vacancy bulletins (e.g. from us)
• Internet

5
Reactive Job Search Strategies

• Using specialist agencies
• N.B. Many require relevant experience

6
Proactive Job Search Strategies

• Speculative approaches
• Use contacts / networks / fairs
• Use industry directories
• Use articles as market intelligence(who might
  be in a position to recruit?)
• Use course projects/placements to make contacts
• WORK EXPERIENCE/SHADOWING while on the course
  it all counts

7
Networking

• A way of asking for help
• Information advice
• You do it all the time
• Getting the car fixed
• Getting help with an IT problem
• Its not the old boys network

8
Bear in mind

• Most people want to help
• Most people like to be asked for their advice
• One good turn deserves another...you may be in a
  position to help them one day!
• Everyone has contacts

9
Barriers to Networking

• I have no contacts
• I know they would say no
• I want to get a job on my own merits
• Employers hate being approached
• Im too shy

10
The Networking Game

• Abdul Shama Recruitment Supervisor, Enterprise
  Rent-A-Car

11
STEP 1 Identifying contacts

• Friends/relatives
• Other students
• Tutors
• Work Colleagues
• Target those in the area you want to get into
  find someone senior, not always personnel dept

12
STEP 2 Getting in touch

• Do your research first
• Phone or post?
• Mention the name of your referral
• Spell out what you want clearly and concisely
• Acknowledge their experience/expertise but dont
  be sycophantic
• Stress that you want to arrange a meeting and not
  an interview
• Include a CV

13
STEP 2 (cont)

• What to say
• Im thinking of a career in
• Id really appreciate your advice
• No, Im not expecting you to find me a job, I
  just want to pick your brains!
• I just want 20 minutes of your time
• Youre busy? Well how about early/late/Friday...

14
STEP 3 The meeting

• Why meet?
• To Get Information
• The career
• Job market
• Sources of vacancies
• To Get Advice
• Your chances
• Your CV
• To Get Contacts

15
STEP 4 After the meeting

• Always write a short thank you note
• Always follow up any leads they give you
• Stay in touch you never know when you might need
  their help again - or when they might need yours!

16
Networking at employer events

• Research the employers that interest you IN
  ADVANCE
• Think of how you will approach them what will
  you say?
• Work on your 2 minute CV

17
Career Fairs

• Ethnic Diversity Fair -11th October 2007
• Finance, Business Management 24th October
  2007
• Science, Engineering Technology 25th October
  2007
• Postgraduate Study Fair 21st November 2007
• Law Fair 22nd November 2007
• Media Careers Spring Semester 2008
• Kaleidoscope Spring Semester 2008
• Graduate Recruitment Fairs June 2008

18
Key Points from Todays Session

• Your options are very varied
• Many options require early action - often before
  Christmas (Final Year)
• Use the facilities available via the Careers
  Service
• Only you can decide what is right for you and it
  is up to you to take action!

19
Your Timescale for Action

• Sep 07 Self awareness, research options
• Sep/Oct 07/08 Book a careers appointment
• Nov/Dec 08 Start applying for jobs/courses,
  attend Graduate Fairs but Watch out for
  deadlines!!
• Jan/Feb 09 Completing application forms
• Attending interviews and Assessment
  Centres
• Mar 09 Other options