How to Excel at Networking
Networking: the art of making connections in an environment where small talk can feel like a high-stakes poker game. How do you turn these nerve-wracking interactions into career-advancing connections?
Phil Gallagher '14, Vice President of ISG Rewards & Analytics at Morgan Stanley, shares his advice to help you navigate the networking landscape...
Everything is an Interview
You are always making impressions. The way you conduct yourself in any professional interaction, even if informal and informational, is noticed from beginning to end. Proofread anything you send, respond to emails within 24 hours, and keep a positive attitude and tone. If you can’t make a scheduled meeting or decide you no longer want to have a conversation, say so graciously; do not ghost people. Remember that you are getting to know someone. Do research in advance that goes beyond scanning a LinkedIn page.
When you are meeting with someone, it’s important to do research to create informed and thoughtful questions to guide your conversation. You should look up their background and experience on LinkedIn or through materials you receive from the career center, but then go a level further. Do research into the company or industry. Go beyond the surface level “I see you work at ABC Company. What’s that like?” and move to “I saw that ABC Company is selecting a new CEO. How do you think that could impact your department?" Show that you’ve done some homework.
Be Curious
People respond to genuine interest that you show in their work. In addition to the questions that you prepare in advance of any informational interview, ask questions in response to what you hear in the conversation. Demonstrating that you’re an active listener indicates that you are both paying attention and care about what’s being said. To that end, if you hear something that you don’t understand, ask about it. Don’t get too concerned about looking uninformed. Best to learn now so you know more for your next conversation.
Stay In Touch
This is one of the hardest parts of networking but also the most meaningful. If you have a good conversation with someone, let them know in your thank-you note and find a way to stay connected with them into the future. Learn something interesting about the industry that you want to share? Looking for their advice on good books in the field? Drop them a quick email. Want to ask them some additional questions after you’ve learned more about the industry from other conversations? Ask to set up more time to chat. This is how relationships are made.
Consider Asking for Feedback
As you begin to present yourself as a professional, it can be helpful to get perspective on how to improve your approach to networking. Maybe you only asked two questions and the conversation felt short. Maybe you joined the call 5 minutes late but didn’t send a note in advance that you were behind schedule. Requesting and receiving this detail both shows that you are interested in being your best self and gives you the knowledge to do so. A critical part of this is being comfortable receiving feedback, even if it’s tough or if you disagree with it. Well-intentioned feedback is a gift; be grateful that someone took the time to give suggestions that will help you do better in the future.
Put Phil’s advice into practice at Hiatt’s Technology, Analytics & Innovation Virtual Career Fair happening October 25, 2023 from 1—4 p.m. in collaboration with Suffolk University and Wheaton College.
Online registration doesn’t open until October 18, 2023 during our free registration lunch, but you can browse a list of the attending employers right now.