Overview
Networking is a constant cycle of building and maintaining relationships, all of which can help you cultivate information and leads about potential career opportunities. If you've ever talked to a professor, chatted with a family friend or made conversation with someone on a plane, then you've already networked!
Ready to network more? Here are some conversation starters both in-person and via email.
Preparing to Network
A Note About Your Privacy and Online Reputation
Online reputation matters, and what you post publicly on social media can impact your career. We recommend Googling yourself and asking, "Am I comfortable with an employer or admissions rep seeing this?"
Future employers, graduate and law school admissions representatives, and even networking contacts from both LinkedIn and Rise Together will search for you online and factor what they find into their decision-making process. It's critical to constantly review and/or clean up your web presence to build a professional online brand that meets your goals.
Practicing Safe Networking
Whether you are connecting with an alum, a potential employer or a friend of a friend, it's important to take safety precautions when meeting someone new. "Networking up" creates a power dynamic that can at times be difficult to navigate. Remember that you are an equal party in any conversation and have the power to end it at any time if your instincts tell you to do so.
Consider the following tips and advice to help keep you safe.
Get Started
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These practical tips and advice will help you get started in successfully adding valuable relationships to your contact list.
Set Goals
Identify why you want to network and what your desired outcome will be.
Do Research
Learn as much as you can about the industry, job function or employer of interest, as well as the person with whom you will be speaking. If you already know with whom you are meeting, be sure to visit the contact's company website, search for the contact's name online and review the contact's LinkedIn profile.
Find Contacts
Start your search by utilizing LinkedIn and Rise Together to identify people of interest.
Develop Questions
You should expect to have about 10-15 questions ready to ask for a half-hour conversation. Check out these sample questions to get started.
Practice your Introduction
Develop a short 60-second summary to introduce yourself and highlight your unique skills and qualifications. Review our introduction guide to help organize your thoughts.
Create/Edit Your LinkedIn Profile
Having a professional social media presence is an absolute must! Learn how to build and maintain your LinkedIn profile.
Reach Out
Connections may be made in person, over the phone or online. In all cases, you will want to address who you are, why you are contacting them, what you want and a plan for following back up. Use this outreach template to reach out and make connections.
Hiatt recommends the Rise Together Mentor Network.
- Be courteous. Arrive on time or even early.
- Dress professionally as a sign of respect and to make a good impression.
- Ask for advice, not a job. Remember, you’re seeking expertise and wisdom, not a mass distribution of your resume.
- Be prepared to talk about yourself. Your contact will surely ask about your experiences and interest.
- Really listen to what the person tells you.
- Take notes. While it is important to maintain eye contact during in-person meetings, taking notes also demonstrates interest in what the person is saying.
- Keep the conversation relatively short. Respect that the other person has many demands on their time. Be aware of the time that has passed. When there is a break in the conversation near the end of the time you requested, thank the person and politely end the conversation.
Opportunities to connect both in person and online are everywhere.
- Join Rise Together — No more sending cold emails to connections you do not know. Alumni want to help YOU, the Brandeis student.
- Attend Hiatt events — Engage with local and national alumni as well as a diverse pool of employer partners.
- Attend Brandeis events — Stay active in the community by meeting Brandeis students, faculty, staff and leaders.
- Attend local area events — Be an active member of your community by getting involved in events in your area.
- Join professional associations/organizations — Learn more from professionals in your desired market and industry.
- Find and connect with professionals on LinkedIn — Be an active online member by updating your profile, joining groups and being part of conversations.
No matter what your experience may have produced, it is important that you show gratitude to the person you networked with.
Say Thanks
Send a thank you note indicating your appreciation for their time and feedback. Notes should be sent within 24-48 hours of your interaction.
Process the Conversation
What did you learn? What are your next steps?
Stay in Touch
A quick note to a connection can be a nice reminder of who you are and what you are interested in. These relationships may lead to future job or internship referrals, letters of recommendation and/or additional contacts.
Recognize When to Let Go
Not all networking relationships will endure. If you feel that the relationship is no longer beneficial to you or your contact or that you’ve reached your anticipated goals, you should simply part amicably, politely and professionally.
Reciprocate
You never know when someone may seek out your insights and advice in return. Be a source of information for other Brandeis students and professionals.
Informational Interviews
Informational interviews are important tools in networking. If you've ever turned to a friend to ask them about their weekend plans, that's an informational interview! More than just building your network, informational interviews are intentional and targeted.
Use an informational interview as you're still deciding on majors and careers to learn how others apply their education to the workplace. You can also use the informational interview to gain insight into a specific role or company before applying. This insight before you apply can help you decide if you should apply or how to enhance your application.
Lunch or coffee meetings, phone calls, or video chats can all be informational interviews. The same principles of networking apply to informational interviews.
Start with the Outreach Template for sending an email introduction. Use the Sample Interview Questions to help your conversation.
Rise Together
The Rise Together Mentor Network is an online platform that joins Brandeis students and alumni from all over the world to make connections, exchange career advice, expand their network and learn more about industries, careers, and the world of work.
Brandeis alumni want to help meet you, and Rise Together helps you get connected to them.
