networking in the us for international students
TRANSCRIPT
©2014 Dreambridge Partners LLC. All rights reserved. 1
Networking in the US for International Students
The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania
Judy Shen-Filerman, CEO
September 24 & 25, 2014
Where Are Networking Opportunities
Career Fairs
Campus Speaker Alumni
One-on-One
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Networking Preparation and Implementation
Personal Objective
Job and Industry Research
Self-Introduction & Personal Story
Finding Networking Contacts
Setting Up the Meeting
Meeting with Your Network Contact
Post-Meeting Follow-Up
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Networking Implementation
Personal Objective
Job and Industry Search
Self-Introduction / Story
Finding Networking Contacts
Setting Up the Meeting
Meeting with Your Network Contact
Post-Meeting Follow-Up
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Emailing and Calling Dear Mr. Riley, My name is Arjun Gupta and I’m pursuing an MBA with a finance concentration at
Wharton Business School. I am contacting you to learn more about career paths in new venture investments. I learned about you through the alumni office and have been very impressed by your career accomplishments.
Prior to my studies, I was a manufacturing process engineer, with a strong
quantitative and analytical background. I’ve always enjoyed building complex models as a means for imagining what’s possible. I’m excited about modeling and analyzing new ventures because of its criticality in optimizing investments decisions that can have high market impact. I’ve enjoyed both the technical and strategic aspects of venture investments.
I hope to have an opportunity to speak with you in the next couple of weeks, at a
time most convenient for you. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, Arjun Gupta
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Expect to Follow Up… And It’s Expected by Contacts
1. Email about your interest in job / internship, attach your resume
2. Alert them through a VM, left early or late in day (but be ready to talk if they pick up!)
3. Wait 5 days, then repeat steps 1 & 2
4. Repeat cycle 3 times, then quit for a month
5. After a month, try steps 1,2,3. If nothing, then drop
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©2014 Dreambridge Partners LLC. All rights reserved. 4
Be Ready to Pitch at All Times
My name is Arjun Gupta and I’m a first year MBA at Wharton Business School. I learned about you through the alumni office and have been very impressed by your career accomplishments. I’ve just sent you an email as I hope we can find a time to meet. Would this be a good time to talk briefly?
NO - Whom may I contact to set
up time with you?
YES How much time do you have this
morning? Go into your story, questions, ask
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Networking Implementation
Personal Objective
Job and Industry Search
Self-Introduction & Personal Story
Finding Networking Contacts
Setting Up the Meeting
Meeting with Your Network Contact
Post-Meeting Follow-Up
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Meeting with Your Contact
• Arrive early
• Dress professionally (dressing and grooming)
• Be ready with small talk
• Observe the environment
• Observe what is showcased in his/her office
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Engage Ask See-saw End
Meet & Greet Small Talk
Opening
Learning
Showcasing
Asking
Closing
Directing the Conversation
Key Phases
- Your Key Selling Points
- Your Questions
- The Ask
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©2014 Dreambridge Partners LLC
A short, transitional dialogue in which you
share your point of view
about a topic
in a light, no-too-deep manner
to establish a relationship
or bridge to the main event
What is Small Talk?
Engage Ask See-saw End
Small Talk
Opening
Your Turn
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- Traveling there - Weather - Location - Building Design - Enjoying classes
- How can I help you?
- Tell me something about yourself.
• Each identify 1. Position you are interested in 2. Who is your networking contact (position / company)
• Role Play ENGAGE / ASK
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See-saw Learning
I’m very interested to learn how you chose this career and how it developed over the years
and… I welcome your thoughts on how I can successfully enter / grow in this profession and what are specific ways I can further develop
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See-saw
Showcase
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Their Questions
• Why are you interested in this industry?
• What relevant classes have you taken?
• What do you think are the big issues we’re facing?
Parallel “Selling”
• Similar to you…
• I agree with what you were saying about
• I’ve also been very fascinated by…
Your Questions
• You mentioned…do you think that…
• Why has this career been a good fit for you?
• Highlights? Challenges?
Connect to what your contact has
been saying
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See-saw Asking
Reinforce your interest in this career… “I’ve really enjoyed learning about…”
- What is your advice for someone like me who is
entering this career, given my background?
-Are there others I could speak to, to learn more about their career development
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This can happen during your Learning /
Showcasing Phases
See-saw End
Summarize what you learned
Express your gratitude
End gracefully – handshake “Thank you very much for your time. I look
forward to staying in touch”
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Critical Steps to Successful Networking
Personal Objective
Job and Industry Search
Self-Introduction / Story
Finding Networking Contacts
Setting Up the Meeting
Meeting with Your Contact
Post-Meeting Follow-Up
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Thank You Follow-ups Dear Jim, Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me
yesterday. I learned a great deal about this industry and career and particularly enjoyed hearing about your career path.
Our conversation reinforced my strong interest in venture
financing. The initiative you mentioned, requiring global perspectives and innovation, really connected with my interest in using modeling as a means to innovation and my international background.
I look forward to speaking with the colleagues whose names you
provided. Thank you again for your time and counsel. I look forward to keeping in touch as the year progresses.
Sincerely, Arjun Gupta ©2014 Dreambridge Partners LLC
©2014 Dreambridge Partners LLC. All rights reserved. 10
Strategies to Stay Connected
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When you’ve taken action on
the advice
When you’ve talked to a
contact that was referred
Emailing a related article / case of
interest to contact
Holiday / New
Year Cards
Interview Interest (Spring)
Networking Results Take Time 5 persons
1 person
3 – 6 – 9 months
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Key Takeaways
• Networking = high ROI
• Story > List of activities
• Research contact = better connection
• Navigate with EASE
• Follow up
• Success = vision – tenacity – taking rejections – trying again
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www.dreambridgepartners.com/international-
student-resources
©2014 Dreambridge Partners LLC