Networking

Introduce yourself by phone or email, mentioning your mutual connection or referral source, if you have one. Schedule a 20-30 minute appointment, preferably in person, at their convenience. If it is not possible to meet in person, ask for an opportunity to speak by phone or Skype, or even to ask some questions by email.

• Know the area of work you’re interested in and your skills
• Research the organization or career field
• Create sample questions on the industry, work environment, career challenges, etc.

Choose questions that are relevant to you and your situation, or create your own questions. Typically you would plan to ask no more than 10 questions in an interview.

• Tell me how you got started in this field. What educational background or related experiences might be helpful in entering this field?
• What are the daily duties of your job? What are the working conditions? What skills/abilities are utilized in your field?
• What are the toughest issues you deal with at work? What challenges does the industry as a whole have? What is being done to solve these issues?
• What do you find most rewarding about your work?
• How does one move from position to position? Do people normally move to another company/division/agency? What is your policy about promotions from within?  How are employees evaluated?
• What trends do you see for this industry and/or organization in the next 3 to 5 years?
• What advice would you give to someone interested in a job like yours?  When the time comes, how would I go about finding a job in this field? What experience, paid or volunteer, would you recommend? What suggestions do you have to help make my resume more effective?
• What is the job outlook for this occupation? What other types of employers hire people in this line of work? Where are they located?
• What are the most important factors used to hire people in this field (education, past experience, personality, special skills)? Who makes the hiring decisions for your department?
• Based on our conversation today, what other types of people do you believe I should talk to? Can you name a few of these people? May I have permission to use your name when I contact them?

Get to your appointment a few minutes early and be courteous to everyone that you meet. Dress as if this were an actual job interview as first impressions matter. Do not exceed your requested time, but be prepared to stay longer if the contact indicates a willingness to talk longer or to give you a tour of the workplace.

Once inside the organization, be very observant. What kind of working environment is present-dress, style, communication patterns, sense of humor, etc.? Is this a place you could envision working? If you are interested, could you set up a longer shadowing experience at this workplace?

Send a thank-you email expressing your appreciation to your contact for their time and interest. This should be sent within a day or two of your appointment.

Evaluate your experience and the information that you gathered. What did you learn about the field? Are you more or less interested as a result of what you found out? Is there information that you still want to learn? How might you find that information? Are there things that you would improve upon or do differently in another interview?

Follow-up with referrals for additional informational interviews. Hopefully, this has been a very valuable experience and you have learned an important tool for networking and information gathering.

• Research employers and attendees beforehand to familiarize yourself with their values, recent projects, and industry reputation.
• Identify key professionals you want to connect with and prepare your elevator pitch highlighting your major, skills, experiences, and career aspirations.
• Dress professionally according to industry standards and set goals for networking, focusing on making connections and gaining insights into industry trends rather than job applications.

• Maintain a positive attitude and contribute thoughtfully to conversations to showcase your expertise.
• Pay attention to body language by keeping your posture open, smiling, and making eye contact.
• Engage in active listening by nodding, maintaining eye contact, and avoiding actions like checking your phone.
• Respect personal space and be aware of cues indicating discomfort.

• Initiate conversations confidently with a firm handshake and an elevator pitch introduction.
• Use open-ended questions to engage and find shared interests.
• Exchange contact information when a connection is made, either by requesting a business card or suggesting a LinkedIn connection.
• Exit conversations gracefully by waiting for a pause, mentioning another engagement, thanking them for the conversation, and expressing appreciation for their insights.

• What initially drew you to [industry/profession]?
• How did you get started in your career and how has your journey been so far?
• Outside of work, what are some of your interests or hobbies?
• Can you share a little about your professional background and experiences?
• What do you enjoy most about what you do?
• Are there any particular challenges or projects you're currently excited about?
• Do you have any favorite books, podcasts, or resources that have influenced your career or mindset?
• What advice would you give someone just starting in [industry/profession]?
• How do you stay motivated and inspired in your career?
• Are there any upcoming trends or developments in the industry that you find intriguing?

• Find networking events through Career Connect, RIT departments, clubs, Alumni Association, and external professional organizations, or online platforms like LinkedIn and Eventbrite.
• Attend with a friend for support.
• Follow up within 48 hours with personalized thank-you emails or LinkedIn requests, referencing specific conversation points and suggesting a follow-up meeting if desired.