“Networking” is a buzz word you hear a lot related to finding a job or internship. In reality, networking is just meeting people and expanding your ‘network’ of contacts with whom you share an interest. Sort of like Facebook, but for professional reasons. Career Counselor, Katy Rush, shares some thoughts and tips for you this week related to networking.
The Nuts and Bolts of Networking – By Katy Rush
To network successfully, you have to put yourself out there and start meeting people, which means you need to show up to events and engage. Start small and build your confidence by arriving to class 5-10 minutes early and strike up a conversation with those classmates around you. Practice chatting with professors during office hours, attend events on campus and challenge yourself to meet new people. Then attend networking nights, career fairs, employer info sessions, and alumni sponsored events on campus where you can meet professionals in your field.
While conversations with classmates and professors might be more casual, preparing a 30-second introduction or ‘elevator pitch’ may be useful when engaging with employers and alumni. Always be prepared to mention what you’re studying or to transition the conversation to your career interests if you’re able, but remember not to lose sight of making a personal connection with the conversation through small talk.
If this doesn’t come easy to you, try starting the conversation with an anchor subject. This is simply a shared observation, something related to the event you are at or the topic at hand. For example, “Wow, they really laid out the red carpet for this year’s Welcome Back Picnic.” Next, move onto the reveal: share something about yourself relating to the anchor topic that gives the other person something to respond to. For example, “I heard there was going to be a live band, and I love music, so I just had to check it out.” Then, encourage additional conversation by asking open-ended questions relating to the reveal such as “What brought you to the event?”
Remember to be yourself and show a genuine interest in the other person. Keep the conversation going by asking follow-up questions, offering an opinion or additional information. Focus on common ground and demonstrating open body language (nodding, smiling, good eye contact, gestures, etc.).
Then follow up by connecting with them online (such as on LinkedIn) or by email within 24-48 hours while you’re still fresh on their mind. Remind them of where you met and what you spoke about. Ask them to lunch or coffee and offer them assistance because networking should be a mutually beneficial relationship. It shouldn’t be one-sided, so think about how your skills and expertise might be useful to your contacts and give, give, give before asking for something in return.