graduate students networking and job search tools
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome!Today’s goals:• Tools
• App for CareerFest – March 2nd
• New Graduate Student E-Career Guide
• BullsEye • Networking
• Spontaneous meetings• Planned “informational
interviews”• LinkedIn
NEW GRAD STUDENT GUIDE
New Graduate Student Career Guide:
Listings: 15%
Prospecting & Networking: 85%
www.buffalo.edu/career/Students/career_guide.html
PREPARE FOR CAREERFEST
Download the CareerFest App
Listings: 15%
Prospecting & Networking: 85%
Search for “UB Events Guide”
BULLSEYE
Let’s look at BullsEyeListings: 15%
Prospecting & Networking: 85%
3 JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES
1. Applying to vacancy listings2. Prospecting3. Networking
The iceberg analogyListings: 20%
Prospecting & Networking: 80%
NETWORKING
• The art of reaching out to others in the world of work for the purpose of developing/maintaining a foundation of professional contacts
• "Networking is simply the cultivating of mutually beneficial, give and take, win-win relationships. It works best, however, when emphasizing the 'give' part." -Bob Burg
• Network before you need to find a job.
NETWORKING
• Stop looking for a job or internship, look for people.
2 TYPES OF IN-PERSON NETWORKING
• Spontaneous meeting
• Planned “informational interviews”
Spontaneous meetings.
WHERE TO FIND PEOPLE
• Planes and busses (other students) • Classes (professors, guest lecturers)• Any open meetings, workshops, presentations….
on campus and off-campus (just go to stuff!)
• Professional associations (websites/meetings)• LinkedIn• UB Mentor Program LinkedIn Group• Career Services events buffalo.edu/career
MORE PLACES TO FIND PEOPLE
• Job fairs (Tech. Fair and CareerFest)• Employer information sessions (see events in BullsEye) • Career Conversations (see events on Career Services website)• Get involved in activities outside your major or
career area, volunteer activities, religious services, etc.
• You are always networking!
NETWORKING AT EVENTS
• Know “who” will be there. Recruiters? Alumni? Students?
• If it’s a job fair, know which employers will be there.
• Attitude: don’t think of yourself as someone who is in need of a job, rather be interested in learning about new people or organizations
• At job fairs, go to tables with no lines to have more in-depth conversations and show that you care about people
HOW TO “WORK THE ROOM”
• Have 2-3 relevant topics, current events, to talk about, questions to ask, “elevator speech”
• If someone asked you, “What’s new?”, know what would you say ahead of time
• Scan the room first to see who is there• Look for people who are alone first, it’s harder to
get into a conversation that is already happening• It’s easier to join a group of 3 or more than
breaking into a conversation of 2 people• Try to “catch the eye” of another person in the
group
HOW TO “WORK THE ROOM” (CON’T)
• Smile and reach out to shake hands as you approach
• If wearing a nametag, place it on your right side (same side you shake hands)
• Say your name and how you fit into the situation• Example: “I’m Ed Brodka, a Career Counselor at
UB and I’m here to…”• Wait for them to say their name
THE NAME GAME…
• Listen carefully to their name• Try to connect it somehow to their face or to a
person you know by the same name (i.e., Bob)• Comment on or ask question about their name
(“My sister’s name is Donna”)• Use their name in your conversation, “What
brings you here Bob?”• Introduce them to someone you know who may
join you
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING
Follow up with a question to them• “How are you connected to this event?”• “What have you heard about this speaker?”• “How did you hear about this?”• “What sessions have you gone to?” • “What made you choose that session?”
LOOK FOR CONNECTIONS WITH OTHERS
• Listen for what you have in common with them or make connections to their interests or career field (i.e., “My sister-in-law works at Dresser-Rand, too.”)
• Listen for cues of how you can help the person• Suggest others that they may want to meet (i.e.,
“My brother the bee keeper.”)• Ask “So, what do you do when your not (fill in the
blank)?”
LET’S PLAY…“IT’S A SMALL WORLD”
• Stand up • Raise your hand. Put up 1 to 5 fingers• Look for a person who is sitting farthest from you
that when you add your fingers to their fingers, you get an odd number.
• Stand by that person.• Introduce yourself, handshake.• Talk with that person until you discover a person,
location, or event that makes you say, “It’s a small world”.
Informational interviews.
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW
• Don’t ask for a job or internship, ask if you could meet with them for coffee or at their office to “pick their brain” a little bit. To get advice, etc.
• Ask questions about them…How did you get started at this company or in the field?
• Let them know your tentative career plans and ask specific questions about 2 different paths (i.e., research vs. industry; M.D. vs. P.A.)
• Ask if they have any specific advice for you• Ask who else would they recommend you talk
with
Networking tips.
NETWORKING TIPS
• Be “somewhat” specific about your goals (i.e., substance abuse counseling vs. I want to help people)
• Networking “law of gravity” – start near the top of the organization when looking for a contact.
• Ask if there are any projects/special events coming up that you can help with
• Do class projects that can put you in contact with a potential contact/company.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE…
• Talk with your professors before or after class• Offer to report out in small group discussions• Go to workshops/panel discussions and always
converse with presenters afterwards• Ask “So, what do you do when your not (fill in the
blank)?”
FOLLOWING UP…
• Take notes on each meeting or chance contact • Request business cards/give them yours• Thank-you letter/email within 24 hrs. • Establish the next step:
• Can you “connect” with them on Linkedin?• Will you touch base again in a few weeks?• Will they help circulate your resume?
• Let them know what happened (i.e., you contacted their friend, you got the job, etc.)
• Keep in touch…email link to interesting article or video
• Don’t expect instant results!
LinkedIn.
WHAT’S LINKEDIN?
Your online professional “brand” or identity • Google You… LinkedIn should be first listing• A place to build your professional identity on the
web, facilitate connections with professionals and peers, give and get free advice and conduct networking and research for your job or internship search.
A Huge Free “Searchable” Database of…• Over 300 million people• Over 89,000 University at Buffalo Alums and
Students as of June 2014
HOW LINKEDIN CONNECTIONS WORK
Your Contacts’ Contacts’ Contacts (3rd Level)
Your Contacts (1st level)
YOU
THINGS TO REMEMBER
• Just creating a profile is not enough – you need to be ACTIVE on it
• Your LinkedIn Profile is only as good as it is up to date
• LinkedIn is not Facebook. • Approach everything you do on this site with
professionalism. This includes status messages, “likes”, and comments.
• UB Career Services can help you make the most of your LinkedIn Profile
LET’S LOOK AT LINKEDIN
• To learn about it you have to actually see it• And play with it…. linkedin.com
Good luck and keep in touch!Questions?Ed’s contact info:Career Services, 259 Capen716-645-2231 (please make appts. through front desk)[email protected]