Network To Success!

1. Network To Success! Career Services, M-8 Alliant International University

2. 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!

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Your Existing Network

7. 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

8. 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!

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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!