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Networking describes the process of making connections and building professional relationships.
It can take place in a variety of settings such as in a group or 1-1, at a formal networking event, or randomly at a coffee shop. Networking supports your career exploration, ability to gain career experience and make informed career decisions.
Building your network is an ongoing pursuit.
Networking takes effort, and when done well, is not schmoozing or simply asking for a job. It does not need to feel artificial or transactional. Instead, building a network can feel more approachable if you focus on building relationships organically. You never know, someone from your network might be asking for your advice!
Have you heard of the saying, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know?” There’s some truth to that. You never know where a connection may lead, or who your connection might know.
You can start with your existing network such as current and former classmates, professors, managers, co-workers, mentors, and even friends and family. As you continue building your network, you might approach folks you’ve volunteered with, alumni from institutions or programs you’ve participated in, hobby and interest groups (for example, clubs or honor societies), industry professionals at an event, and more.
Networking can technically happen anywhere and with anyone, however to intentionally network, here are some ideas:
Networking can take many forms, and each person may approach building relationships different. Whether you’re attending an event, or meeting someone 1:1, there are key elements to networking:
Mentorship is reciprocal and collaborative relationship that most often occurs between a more experienced individual (the mentor) and a lesser experienced individual (the mentee) for the purpose of the mentee’s growth and learning. In a mentor-mentee relationship, mentors typically provide guidance, direction, and advice to their mentee.
There are tons of benefits to mentorship! Here are three of the top benefits:
Whether it be general life, industry specific, or role specific information, mentorship offers an opportunity to access a wealth of knowledge that otherwise might be hard to find. It’s not always easy to identify where we may need to improve; mentors can offer constructive feedback, and insight into areas of growth.
Mentors are great people to consult with for your ideas and decision making. Mentors can help you brain storm or problem solve and can offer their personal and professional opinion. They may even be able to help you set goals.
Mentors can be valuable people in your network, potentially connecting you with individuals in their own network. They can also serve as great advocates for you both in and out of the workplace.
Other benefits of mentorship might bring are having access to professional training and resources, having a role model or cheerleader, expanding the way you think, and having someone to go for advice, direction, or coaching to help you achieve your goals.
Mentorship programs are a great place to start when looking for a mentor. They might be hosted by your school or university or a program you’re a part of. Outside of an official mentorship, leadership, scholarship, or fellowship program, the easiest way to find a mentor is to start with people you already know. It can be a former colleague, manager, teacher, and more.
When identifying a mentor, consider asking yourself the following questions:
Though there’s not a singular way to ask someone to be your mentor we suggest doing the following:
Schedule an initial conversation. Create an opportunity to talk to the person and clearly communicate your ask.
Prior to your conversation, take time to brainstorm what you’d like to say and articulate what you’re hoping for. When making “the ask,” clearly describe what you’re hoping for and the type of guidance you’re seeking.
Confirm the person’s willingness and communicate your understanding of the valueof the opportunity and relationship, your commitment, and reciprocal offering of support to them.
Be sure to acknowledge and respect the person’s time and energy. Always make your appreciation clear, and try to make the most of your time together.
Remember, your mentor is a person too! Don’t treat this as transactional. Try to get to know them and put effort in building your relationship. Relationships take two people.
When you are seeking networking and mentorship opportunities, you’ll need an elevator pitch, a brief way of introducing yourself with a few key points. Your elevator pitch is vital for making connections, meeting new people, and preparing to answer the question in job interviews: “Could you share a little more about yourself?”
Here are the prompts to consider when putting together your elevator pitch. Consider all the responses you might have then narrow down to 2-3 items per category. Refine and practice your pitch with people you trust. Your elevator pitch should be 30-60 seconds long, and when used, should be targeted to the specific audience you’re speaking to.
You can see in these two examples, there is a clear overview of who the person is, what they’re studying and interested in exploring more, and what their hoping to get from their new connection or mentor.
Informational interviews are a helpful way to make new connections and find mentors in your field. They are semi-informal conversations, usually lasting 20-40 minutes with a person working in a career field or occupation that interests you.
The purpose depends on your curiosities. You can gather information regarding different career paths and ask questions about the industry or the company. It’s also a great way to network.
Focus on someone who you’d like to learn from–whether it’s they have a career path, a current career, or industry knowledge that you’re interested in learning more about. Here are some examples to consider:
Once you have identified someone for an informational interview, reach out to ask for the meeting–it could be in-person, by email, or phone. Here’s what to include in your outreach:
Congrats! You set up your informational interview. Here are some ways to prepare for the meeting.
Congrats! You set up your informational interview. Here are some ways to prepare for the meeting.
Prepare at least 10 questions to ask (example agendas and questions below)
Do some research about the person, their job, and the company so you can make the most of the conversation
First, thank the person for their time and share appreciation for meeting with them. You can exchange introductions and you can share more about yourself and why you are interested in meeting.
Be prepared to ask questions, prioritizing the most important ones. You can also ask the person if they might recommend colleagues who would also be willing to meet for informational interviews. Remember to respect the time frame you agreed upon and to thank the person for their time as you wrap up.
Be prepared to come to your information interview with an agenda and questions ready. Here are some examples to get started. You can make these personal to your curiosities.
Agenda
Remember to thank those who offer an informational interview or support other aspects of your career exploration or job search. You can also connect with them on LinkedIn and initiate contact every couple of months to check-in and share your progress.
Get guidance directly from our Making Waves community of coaches, career specialists, students, and college graduates.
If you’re a Wave-Maker college student or alum and would like support with your job and internship search strategy, please reach out to the Making Waves Early Career Team for a free meeting.
