Creating and Leveraging Professional Connections

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Creating and Leveraging Professional Connections

• Tips that will serve you well in your job search
  and professional development.

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Creating and Leveraging Professional Connections

• Three Sure fire ways to network
• Mine your contacts
• Make the most of your connections with
  professionals through informational interviews
• Present a polished and positive image

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Make Yourself a Known Commodity

• Most organizations look first at people they know
  and people who come recommended by people they
  know when hiring.
• That's why you need to learn to network.

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Its not JUST who you know

• Having an "in" usually isn't enough to land the
  job. You need to present yourself to your best
  advantage
• You have to interview well and demonstrate the
  requisite skills

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Before the Formal Hiring Process

• Organizations tend to recognize that they need to
  hire someone long before they create a formal job
  specification and widely advertiseDuring this
  period, they
• See if anyone within the organization knows of a
  talented person who might be available. They may
  consult advisers, vendors, or customers.
• Will be more open than usual to discussions with
  those who present themselves on their ownor
  better yet, come with an introduction from
  someone the hiring manager respects.

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Seven Reasons to Network Instead of Wait for a
Posting

• 1) Networking gives you an earlier chance at an
  opportunity, at a time when you can still help
  shape the job description and influence the level
  and pay range of the position.
• 2) Jobs posted on the Internet or advertised in
  the newspaper and even those listed with campus
  recruiters have often been filled or are close to
  being filled by the time you become aware of them
• 3) You will face less competition because no more
  than a handful of other people will typically be
  brought in through an organization's own
  networking activities.

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• 4)Networking also gets you access to people who
  might not be responsive to a direct approach
  letter, and provides you with the added advantage
  of a recommendation from someone the hiring
  manager knows.  
• 5) A job seeker's chances of obtaining a meeting
  with a particular individual improve
  significantly when a good approach letter is
  coupled with a respected referral.

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• 6) A company's current employees are among the
  best sources of referralsmany firms report that
  40 percent to 50 percent are filled by candidates
  referred by staff members. 
• 7) Companies view such candidates more favorably
  than those brought in through other methods,
  because they already know something about the
  organization and have a personal connection with
  the candidate

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A Group

• People you already knowfriends, family,
  colleagues, and acquaintances.
• not necessarily the best source of jobs, but they
  can advise you on your resume, comment on how you
  present yourself, and help you identify your
  skills.
•  Get referrals from your contacts
• professionals working in your field of interest
• people who work for organizations that interest
  you.

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B Group

• People in your field or with a company you are
  interested in .
• May or may not know of any specific job
  opportunities
• Can provide valuable information about current
  needs in your field,
• where your skills might fit,
• what you should emphasize in your presentations,
• what you need to learn
• resources that you can access 
• Can also introduce you to other B contacts and
  possibly to people in the C group.

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C Group

• People who could hire you if a need existed in
  their company and you seemed to be qualified.
• May not be an immediate opening for you
• A well-conducted information and referral meeting
  with a C person might lead to an interview a
  month or two later,
• Introductions to other B and C contacts

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Methods of Contact

• Telephone call will usually suffice to set up a
  meeting with an A group person,
• An approach letter, followed by a phone call to
  set up an appointment, is usually a more
  effective and appropriate means of contacting a B
  or C group person
• An approach letter normally should not be
  accompanied by a resume

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Informational Interviews Making the Most of
Your B and C Contacts

• Learn valuable information about your field of
  interest from someone directly involved .
• Provides an opportunity to connect with potential
  employers.
• Builds your networking contacts.

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Informational Interview

• Its not an interview for a job just
  information.
• You are in charge of the meetingyou set it up.
• Fact Most individuals enjoy talking about their
  experiences.

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Prepare before your meeting

• Know what skills you have to offer and why you
  are interested in their field,etc.
• Identify what it is that you want to learn.
• Create a list of questions to ask. (see the
  attached list)
• Dress for the environment (see business formal
  and business casual fliers attached).

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During your meeting

• Remember you are in charge since you called the
  meeting.
• Relax and treat it as a conversation.
• Take brief notes.
• Honor the time commitment.

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Follow-up

• Ask for their business card.
• Send a Thank you note.
• Contact the people they suggest.

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Creating A Professional ImpressionDO

• Dress Appropriately
• Stay Calm
• Give yourself the opportunity to do what ever
  relaxes you (within reason!)
• Arrive Early
• Give yourself time to get lost - but check in no
  more than 10 minutes early
• Greet well
• Firm, dry handshake (be sure to stand)
• Good breath (no gum)
• Always stand when introduced

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Dont

• Monopolize the conversation.
• Say negative things about a person, company,
  product, etc.
• Use profanity.
• Tell lots of jokes or use sarcasm
• Talk about controversial issues when you dont
  know the others in the group.

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Introduce Yourself

• When you recognize someone and he/she does not
  recognize you.
• When attending a gathering, business or social.
• When seated next to someone
• When the person introducing you does not remember
  your name.

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Campus Resources

• Jessica Nelson
• MMC 24
• nelsonje_at_vancouver.wsu.edu
• 546-9567