networking: the key to your professional success
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Networking: The Key to Your Professional Success. Ann Blasick Assistant Director Division of Professional Practice Georgia Institute of Technology March 7, 2009. What is Networking?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Networking:The Key to Your Professional
Success
Ann BlasickAssistant Director
Division of Professional PracticeGeorgia Institute of Technology
March 7, 2009
What is Networking?
What is Networking?The process of discovering and utilizing
connections between people. Networks stem from friendships or business relationships. Everyone knows other people, and thus has a network. But "networking" implies movement beyond one's immediate network and involves tapping into other people's networks.
What Networking Isn’tNetworking isn't a process of making
cold-calls to people you don't know. It's talking to people you do know to ask them to introduce you to others. It’s introducing yourself to new people and letting them know what type of job you’re looking for.
Expanding Your Network
Why is Networking Effective?Consistently cited as #1 way to get a job
1. The more people you meet, the more opportunities you’ll find
◦ Many jobs never get advertised 2. People hire who they know and trust
◦ CareerXRoad's 2007 Annual Sources of Hire Survey: 34% of new hires brought in from outside an organization were due to employee referrals
Ways to NetworkAttending conferences like this one!Family, friends, neighbors, classmatesProfessional groups (IEEE, SWE, NSBE)Fraternities and sororitiesSocial clubs or religious groupsStrike up conversation in the doctor’s office, gym,
student center, at a baseball game, etcTalk to professors after class or during office hoursTalk to advisors or grad studentsAlumni directoriesNetworking websites such as www.linkedin.com
Networking with AlumniGT Alumni Directory
◦Tiffany Norman at [email protected]
GT Alumni Association LinkedIn Group To join, visit gtalumni.org/pages/career
GT Alumni Associations Mentor Jackets◦Jane Stoner at [email protected]
Networking TipsKnow your goalPrepare 30 second introduction
◦Who are you? What can you offer?Business cards: the currency of
networkingAlways offer to reciprocate assistanceKeep tracking spreadsheetA note on professional happy hours
Networking Steps1. Email or call the person.2. Be concise. Identify yourself, identify how you
obtained their contact info, and state why you are contacting this person
3. List an action item. This may an inquiry about internship opportunities, an inroads for a job you’ve applied to, or a request for an informational interview.
4. Request a follow-up to this email, via phone or email. Give your contact the choice of how to continue.
Informational InterviewsTalking with people in fields you are considering to
gain understanding of an occupation or industry and to build your network.
Leave meeting time and place up to person in the field
Bring questionsKeep to about 30 minutesAsk if there’s anyone else they’d
recommend you talk toDon’t ask for a jobSend thank-you note or email
Professional Networking Sites – Do’s and Don’ts
LinkedInProfessional version of FacebookOver 35 million users from 170+
industries and 200+ countries Connects you to your
connection’s connections
Let’s you see who knows who!
According to comScore, U.S. visitors shot up 22% to 7.7 million from Dec 2008 to Jan 2009.
Professional Networking with LinkedIn
My LinkedIn PageYour Connections: 327 Two degrees away: 35,300+ Three degrees away: 2,583,400+ Total Users I can contact through an Introduction: 2,619,000+
Resourceshttp://web.mit.edu/career/www/workshops
/networking/whatis.html
http://www.rileyguide.com/network.html
http://www.quintcareers.com/informational_interviewing.html
My Contact Info
Another person for your network!
404-894-0735