What is Networking & How Do I Use it Effectively?

I work with a team of professional career advisors that teach American University students the value of networking – “making connections and maintaining relationships with people who support you throughout each phase of your career” (source:  http://www.american.edu/careercenter).  Our very own School of Communication Professor Chris Palmer and Career Center advisors share the 7 secrets of effective networking* -

1. Prepare an “elevator speech”
2. Act with confidence even if you feel shy or intimidated
3. Communicate in a warm and sincere way
4. Follow through with referrals, and always thank your contacts
5. Look for ways that you and your contacts can help each other
6. Create a system for tracking contact information and notes
7. Manage your “online image”

*further details provided on American University’s Career Center website – Networking)

 Networking Through LinkedIn – Professional Social Media Tool

As mentioned in a previous blogpost, Your Online Brand, 89% of employers have made a hire through LinkedIn.  This professional network platform has more than 200 million members and it opens the line of communication that help users discover connections and learn about the skills they need to market to future leads. Essentially, your network of contacts may help you to choose the right career, find rewarding opportunities, develop your skills, and achieve your goals.  Once you’ve decided to create your profile, LinkedIn will guide you through various steps to include your contact information, photograph, experience, education, recommendations and more in your profile.  You’ll also get a chance to edit your privacy settings – what is viewed publicly and how you would like to connect with others in your professional network.  Find detailed instructions, including videos on how to use LinkedIn effectively through Lynda.com.

So what’s next? Take a bold step and begin networking in person during upcoming events as well as create your LinkedIn profile.  Our Career Advisors are happy to help you develop your elevator speech, discuss networking strategies and review your LinkedIn profile during an advising appointment.

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My name is Marc St.Hilaire and I’m the newest member of the AU Career Center. I’ll be working with graduate students within SIS alongside John Charles, so I’m looking forward to meeting with you all either one on one or during drop-in hours at the SIS atrium.

On my first day at AU which was exactly two weeks ago my new boss said these fine words about careers: “Follow your passion and pay the bills”. At some point we’ve all been told to “do what you love,” but for some that doesn’t always mean a salary. Very often what we enjoy doing can sometimes feel mutually exclusive to what “pays the bills.”

So how does one combine their passion with that inevitable need to make an income? The answer: It’s all about the small steps.

If making a leap to your true passion is not a financial option at the moment, take small steps that’ll eventually lead you there.  A key element to doing this is setting aside time to develop your passion. Even if it’s as little as 15 minutes a day, make this time your own to do one or all of the following:

• Start learning and developing relevant skills through independent study and/or coursework
• Build relationships with people who work in your industry of interest through social media ( i.e. LinkedIn) and other networking
• Intern, volunteer and/or job shadow in an organization(s) of interest
• Work on side projects and other freelance activities

Whether you’re being paid to do something you love or taking steps to eventually get there, keep at it because these activities will enable you to work at your peak. In a recent article in the Harvard Business Review entitled “Choosing Between Making Money and Doing What You Love,” the authors – Leonard A. Schlesinger, Charles F. Kiefer and Paul B. Brown – state ” You simply want to be doing something that you love, or something that is logically going to lead to something you love, in order to do your best work. That desire will make you more creative and more resourceful, help you get further faster, and help you persist”.

So get out there and follow your passion, the bills will get paid sooner or later.

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You may need to significantly improve your online presence. After you check Facebook, build a solid presence on LinkedIn. The LinkedIn Learning Center is a great way to get information to move forward with your profile. Start with their overview video. We also have a LinkedIn expert at The Career Center, Felicia Parks, who did a series of videos that you might find helpful. If you don’t have a lot of experience or if you need to be able to demonstrate an interest in an issue area, then Sparked.com could be a way to help. And by that, I mean you get a chance to help others and the experience can help you. Sparked.com is a micro-volunteering site where, in the time it takes you to play Angry Birds, you could be helping a nonprofit organization solve a problem, produce a product, and collaborate with others literally across the world. After micro-volunteering, you can post a note to your LinkedIn profile. Learn more about the organization by watching this overview. Don’t forget to regularly Google yourself to see what’s coming up and make sure you know what your online presence is saying about you.

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What are the best ways to make it easier on yourself? Hopefully you have some internships so you at least have some experience on your resume. Next, you want to have a really strong resume and a job search strategy so you know where to look, where to apply, and how to follow up. Networking is key, make sure your LinkedIn profile is current. And don’t wait until the last minute. If you’re graduating in May, you should be mapping out your strategy now. If you graduate in December, you should be actively looking now. Be sure to take advantage of the advising, events, and online resources of the Career Center. Plan to attend the Fall Job and Internship Fair on Wednesday, September 21st.

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If you’ve worked on the Hill or in government, you’ve likely seen the book version of The Leadership Library, and perhaps you’ve mistaken it for the Yellow Pages. For your convenience, the AU library offers a web-based version of the directory, allowing you to do a faster, simpler search for professionals to connect with.

One way to start your search for new contacts is by alma mater. A search for American University yields a list of more than 2,300 professionals who attended AU as an undergraduate or graduate student. These individuals work in a wide variety of positions in government, nonprofits, corporations, media and on the Hill. From there, you can either export the full list of results or do additional searching to narrow your list based upon organization or job function.

In most cases, contact information for these individuals is listed in your search results. Much like LinkedIn, you might reach out to particular individuals to learn more about their careers or organizations. If you’re not sure how to initiate contact, review the Career Center’s informational interviewing guide for tips and sample language.

Have you used The Leadership Library to make new professional connections? What information did you gain from speaking with them?

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Why is networking important? It’s one of many avenues to reach future employers, business partners and customers.  Effective networking allows you to present yourself and your objectives in a much more personal way than just submitting your resume and cover letter through an employer’s website.  You have a great opportunity to network with alumni and employers on Tuesday, March 1st during the SOC reception.

As with past networking receptions, our Career Center has noticed a few “wall flowers” in the room so we recommend “getting out of your comfort zone”.  Unlike a job fair, employers are looking to mingle with multiple students.  Although they appear to be a moving target, take a chance with introducing yourself and asking a few questions. You’ll feel confident by the time you meet the second or third person.  Still unsure of your plan of attack? Then attend our pre-networking session with Professor Chris Palmer.  Submit your RSVP through this link

Looking for a great way to follow-up with an alumni or an employer after the networking reception? Then be sure to pick up our list of registered alumni and employers.  The list is extremely helpful if you find that your ideal employer was unable to attend but providing contact information – feel free to reach out to them with a detailed email.

Attended past receptions but didn’t see employers for your field? While it’s true that a few employers will have hectic schedules that won’t allow them to attend a networking reception, many are very interested in connecting with you through social media.  Take advantage of American University’s InCircle site, LinkedIn, Twitter and company websites to network with employers.

Here a few tips to ponder before the networking reception

• Create and maintain a list of companies you would like to work for (know that you’ll be editing this as your career goals change in the future)
• Keep up-to-date with these organizations and contacts – blog posts, Twitter, company Facebook pages or Google
• Make connections now through networking events, social media sites, faculty, friends and family members
• Identify key people you want to meet for informational interviews or possible referrals
• Join a club to learn great advice, interact with industry leaders and stay accountable to others
• Remember that networking is a two-way street.  Be sure that you are a resource to the contacts you meet and possibly assist them with future needs

So now it’s time to network.  Be sure to join your fellow students, alumni and employers at the SOC networking reception on Tuesday, March 1st from 7pm-8:30 pm (RSVPs should be submitted through AU CareerWeb).

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There are over 500 members of the American University Alumni groupon LinkedIn. There are almost 1300 members in the American University School of International Service Global Alumni group. Don’t be shy! Make the most of these potential connections Leveraging your LinkedIn Network in the Career Center Library at 3:30PM. If you need to be told why this is important, check out the following video.

Why Be LinkedIn; CareerSpots.com © document.(2011);

How do you introduce yourself? How do you balance that glass of punch and plate of pupusas when the person from Protiviti proceeds with purpose in your general direction? Come to the Pre-reception Networking Workshop at 6:00 in the SIS Beacon Conference Room. Then put your skills to work at the SIS Alumni-Student Networking Reception starting at 7:00PM in the SIS Founder’s Room.

Make it your goal to have 10 new contacts by the end of the week, and schedule at least one informational interview for the near future. Need more help? Check out these videos!

Importance of Networking; CareerSpots.com © document.writeln(2011); Download Quick Tips (PDF)

Informational Interviews; CareerSpots.com © document.(2011); Download Quick Tips (PDF)

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• “Not only did I find out about new methods to search for careers, but I was reminded to go back to other methods that I was starting to slack off on or lose faith in.”
• “Encouragement. Knowing the process will end up with finding a lot about yourself and the best fits for yourself .”
• “It was very interesting and inspiring to hear all of the speaker’s stories. I don’t feel as nervous about finding a job when I graduate. They all explained how they got where they are now and I really appreciate their advice.”
• “Lessons learned: 1. Importance networking 2. Never burn bridges 3.know how to market yourself.”

One of our panelists was particularly successful at provoking discussion with his own colorful dialogue. He intimated that it was appropriate to lie on a resume. So why shouldn’t you lie (apart from the obvious ethical, moral, and spiritual implications)? What do hiring managers say about applicants and employees who lied on their resumes? What happens if they’re hired?

What will they say and do?

FORGET YOU!

Little known fact – Cee Lo was actually inspired by an applicant to had lied on his resume. He just didn’t think that would be a very marketable video. “I pity the fool that hires you.”

OK, not really, but it sounds good.

Photo by davidfg

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• TODAY at 6:30PM in McDowel Formal Lounge: Job Searching with a Bachelor’s Degree
• TUESDAY at 3:00PM in the SIS Founder’s Room: Career Planning for Undergraduates
• WEDNESDAY at 6:30PM in the SIS Founder’s Room: Job Searching with a Master’s Degree
• THURSDAY at 3:30PM in the Career Center Library: Leveraging Your LinkedIn Network
• THURSDAY at 6:00PM in the SIS Beacon Conference Room: Prereception Networking Workshop
• THURSDAY at 7:00PM in the SIS Founder’s Room: SIS Alumni-Student Networking Reception

See you there!

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One of the most underutilized resources available to you right now is LinkedIn, a free professional networking website that boasts a membership of 85 million people in 200 countries. The premise behind LinkedIn is that “relationships matter,” and to back this up, the website allows you to create a network of professionals to connect and build relationships with. This can be helpful when you’re looking for work and even more broadly when you’re unsure what you can do with a particular major.

Here are four easy ways to maximize your use of LinkedIn:

• Create a complete profile. Your profile is your face on LinkedIn, and you want to be sure to include all relevant information about your work experience, academic background, specialties and interests. If you’re looking for a job or internship, use this space to highlight the key skills you bring to a position. You can also complement the text in your profile with a professional photograph.
• Connect with people you already know. With 85 million people on LinkedIn, it may seem overwhelming to find people to connect with. The best way to start is to invite people you already know, including current and former co-workers and supervisors, classmates, faculty and staff members, and even members of your family. When you’ve connected with a former colleague or supervisor, consider asking them to recommended you and your work. You can also do the same for them.
• Join groups to widen your network. Using the groups feature is critical to your success on LinkedIn. Start by conducting searches of organizations you’re affiliated with. This can include a search of “American University,” your former employers, volunteer groups, professional associations and others. Review the group message boards and post a message yourself to become engaged with fellow group members.
• Make new connections. Once you join groups, you can search for members that have a professional background that you’d like to learn more about. The best way to start this conversation is to invite them to connect with you. In your invitation be sure to send a professional, tailored message that identifies what you have in common and why you’d like to get in contact with them. This could be something as simple as pointing out that you both attended AU and that you’re interested in learning more about their organization or the career path they’ve taken. Do not explicitly state that you’re looking for a job or internship in the invitation; instead, ask if they would be open to sharing their advice in an informational interview.

LinkedIn offers a series of student checklists to help you use the website. If you’re feeling stuck or unsure of what to include on your page, model the profiles of your mentors or others that you look up to. And consider connecting with your Career Advisor to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the Career Center and in the job market.

*NOTE: Some information adapted from the LinkedIn press website.

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