Networking is about establishing contacts
and building relationships that can lead to potential jobs or other work-related opportunities.
This video will go step-by-step through the process of networking to build a community
of people that can support you in your career development journey.
Step 1 Prepare to Network Before you start trying to connect with people,
it’s a good idea to prepare your 30-second elevator pitch.
Think of your elevator pitch like this: you’re on an elevator with someone, and you only
have the time it takes to get from the floor where you got on to the floor you’re going
to tell them about yourself.
You have to condense the information so you get their interest and tell them what you
need to say.
Your elevator pitch will be useful for cold-contacting, career fairs, employer information sessions,
and online and in-person networking.
It will impress your connections and show that you’re prepared by being able to articulate
what you can do, explain what you can offer, and describe what your goals are, all in a
20-30 second timeframe.
To prepare your pitch, consider these questions: • What do you do?
• What are your greatest strengths and qualifications?
• What are you looking for or looking to do?
• What are your next steps?
Remember to practice your pitch so you sound natural and not robotic.
Step 2 Build your Network Tap into your existing personal and professional
networks—the people you already know.
Make a list of contacts including family, friends, classmates, professors, coworkers,
etc.
Talk to the people in your network.
Tell them that you are looking for work and explain the kind of work you are looking for.
Here are some ways that you can utilize your existing networks:
• Ask them for information or referrals to companies, industries, and job openings.
• Ask if they can introduce you to people in their network who are of interest to you.
• Keep them informed of how they have helped you and thank them often for their efforts.
• Help your network too, and share any contacts, advice, or job leads that would be of interest
to them.
Step 3 Try Cold Contacting A cold contact is when you contact a person
who you have not previously met in order to find out information.
Cold contacts can be made over the phone, or by email.
You can also do this in-person by stopping by and asking to speak with the hiring manager
about potential job opportunities.
If you’re cold contacting someone, you should: • Introduce yourself.
• Ask about any potential job opportunities.
• Provide information on what you can offer, your background, and experience.
• Propose a possible meeting.
Your elevator pitch will come in handy.
Step 4 Gain Experience Gaining experience as a student is a good
way to get hands-on experience that prepares you for employment once you graduate.
It is also a good way to meet and impress people in the field.
Some experiential learning opportunities include apprenticeships, clinical placements, co-ops,
field placements, applied research projects, practicums, and workplace simulations.
If your program does not include an experiential learning component, there are other ways of
gaining experience.
This includes part-time and summer employment and volunteer opportunities.
This can also include job shadowing, which is where you observe working professionals
during their typical work day or week.
To inquire about job shadowing opportunities, reach out to people in your network or contact
companies of interest.
Step 5 Attend Job Fairs, Employer Information Sessions, and Networking Events
Attending these events is a great opportunity to expand your network and meet with employers
in your industry.
Employers who attend these events are prepared to speak with you directly about your experience
and skills.
• A job or career fair is an event where employers gather with the intention of recruiting
candidates.
• At an employer information session, an
employer delivers a presentation about their organization to a group of interested candidates;
this is often followed by a question and answer period, a networking session, or a brief interview.
• A networking event, which can be general
or industry-specific, is an opportunity to make new connections and to speak with other
industry professionals in a more formal setting.
Step 6 Connect with a Recruitment Agency A recruitment agency is a company that provides
a service to both employers and job seekers.
The employer hires the agency to help them find suitable candidates to fill their positions.
Agencies will typically meet with you one-on-one and conduct a brief interview to set up a
profile and then inform you if an opportunity presents itself.
Now that you know how to network, you can begin building your own network of people.
This network will be a valuable resource throughout your career.