1. Networking & LinkedIn

2. Networking Facts  80% of today’s jobs are not advertised!  Companies rely on their networks to avoid the flood of unqualified candidates when posting a job online.  Employers trust their employees, friends, and colleagues.  Personal referrals reduce the cost and time of open hiring

3. Why Networking?  If you have a connection to an individual that the employer consults, it may be YOU who is referred for an open job  Employer is often less selective  Less competition (if any at all)  Networking is an essential skill for career survival.

4. Ways to Network  Speak to existing contacts  Family, friends, colleagues  Contact industry professionals for an informational interview or meeting  Attend a career fair  Join professional organizations  Campus organizations  Volunteering or Internships  Social media (LinkedIn, Facebook)

5. Identify Your Network  Personal: Family, friends, acquaintances, service providers, religious ties, neighbors  Professional: Colleagues, employees in other organizations, internship supervisors  Educational: Professors, alumni, TAs, other students, department advisors  Community: Fraternity, campus club, service groups, professional organizations  Opportunistic: People you meet in your day-to-day life  Strategic: Representatives at organizations you want to work for.

6. Make a List WORKSHEET  Fill in the categories at home.  Add any categories that come to mind that are not listed.

7. Planning  Establish clear goals for your job search  Identify related companies and professional organizations  Add phone numbers and email addresses to your master list of contacts  Prioritize based on relevance to job search  Label them with A, B, C, and D in order of how much of a help you think they may be  Contact some C’s or D’s to practice Need help deciding what your career goals are? Attend ICC Career Exploration Workshop or see a Coordinator

8. What to Talk About When Networking  Begin with your “Elevator Speech”  Introduce yourself  Briefly state your professional goals  Concisely explain your related skills and abilities  Ask relevant questions about career field or position  Stay connected  Request a business card  Ask for referrals to other professionals that you should speak with

9. Practice Your Elevator Speech! Don’t forget: Smile, eye contact, firm handshake.

10. Informational Interviews  The best way to network is face to face  Schedule an “informational interview” or “networking meeting” with top contacts  15-20 minute meeting where you ask questions about the contact’s experiences, the career field, & the company  Email, call or use LinkedIn to attempt to set up the meeting Most contacts will be happy to help!—They get to talk about themselves for 20 minutes!

11. Email Outline Dear Mr. Reader, First Paragraph: State how you heard about the person? Have you been following their career? Second Paragraph: Introduce yourself. Give a quick summary of your education, skills, experience in the field. No experience? Highlight enthusiasm and personal qualities. Third Paragraph: Ask for a meeting. Example: If possible, I would appreciate an opportunity to visit with you for 15-20 minutes to hear about your pathway into your current position, and hopefully get some insight and suggestions on where my skills and abilities would be of the greatest value to the ________ field. Fourth Paragraph: Describe Action: I look forward to contacting you early next week to set up a meeting at your convenience. Thank you for your consideration.

12. Handout: Meeting Request

13. Phone  Follow the same basic structure as email  Make it clear that you are not requesting a job  May need to get past the “gatekeeper” If your contact is not available for an in-person meeting, you can do an informational interview over the phone or via Skype.

14. Friends and Relatives  Take a more casual approach:  Ask them how they are doing first!  Ask about their kids, their dog, their wife, their job, etc.  Tell them that you are searching for employment  Explain what you are looking for and your qualifications  They need to know what to say to the potential employer if asked

15. What if They Say No? 4 most common reasons: 1."I do not have time" Does not see your request as a priority. Suggest several meeting dates in the future. Suggest meeting for coffee or during lunch. Clarify that you will respect their time and only need 15-20 minutes. 2. "I do not think I can help you” Concerned that you are requesting help in finding a job. Say you are simply exploring and want their personal perspective on the industry.

16. 3. "You must be looking for HR; I do not hire people" They think you are calling for a job. Redirect and apologize for misleading. You are not looking to meet with them about a job; you are seeking insight on careers. 4. “Organization policy does not allow me to discuss inside information with people” State that you respect their privacy and you are not seeking any proprietary information. Rather, you are looking to discuss the general profile of the industry. What if They Say No?

17. Networking Tips  Do your research  Wear interview attire  Have a list of questions (CRM)  Have your resume ready  They may ask for it  Ask for additional contacts  Follow up with a thank you letter  Email is fine

18. Sample Questions  HANDOUT-Informational Interview Questions  Tailor your questions to organization and industry  Two most important questions:  Do you know of anyone else I could speak to for further strategy advice?  May I stay in touch with you for help with my strategy along the way?

19. At a Career Fair or Event  Set achievable goals  Talk to at least 2 new people  Do research; know company information  Plan what you are going to say  Elevator speech will be your foundation  Bring business cards  Follow up  If you are handed a business card, email the person within 24 hours  Follow directions

20. Internet Networking

21. LinkedIn  Web-based professional networking tool  Find individuals you may not have access to otherwise.  More than 238 million users  Some companies recruit exclusively with LinkedIn Connect to the ICC on LinkedIn!

22. Profile- wizard guides you step by step Profile Share positive & professional updates

23.  SUMMARY: should be strong introduction to your experience and goals; like “Elevator Speech”  EXPERIENCE: sorted chronologically, your professional experience is listed with recommendations; like resume with organization descriptions possible.  EDUCATION: degrees, honors, awards & courses that support your goals  PROJECTS: great for students or others with less experience; describe special projects that relate to field  SKILLS & EXPERTISE: searchable- so make sure you use ‘key words’ related to your experience and your goals Key points about Profile Sections:

24. Make it Complete!  Users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn.  What makes your profile complete?  Your industry and location  An up-to-date current position (with a description)  Two past positions  Your education  Your skills (minimum of 3)  Profile photo  At least 50 connections You can import your resume; but make sure to edit!

25. Now You Have Your Profile: How Do You Use It?  The point of LinkedIn is to make connections  Need to reach out in various ways  Some restrictions on connecting (free or paid)  Import your email contacts  Add people who are connected to you through others (2 nd & 3 rd degree connections)  Request a contact  View list of colleagues and classmates that are already on LinkedIn

26. Other Ways to Connect on LinkedIn  Use search engines to locate key people or companies within your field  Follow specific companies or individuals  Join Groups (ICC, UCD Alumni, Dentists, etc.)  Connect to people in the same group as you  Following companies can give you up-to-date information on places you may be interested in working for  See who else is connected to the company  Be Impressive: Post information, articles, data, etc. on group pages. This will increase your visibility in LinkedIn.

27. Resources for LinkedIn  LinkedIn Learning Center: http://learn.linkedin.com/ http://learn.linkedin.com/  About.com: LinkedIn http://jobsearch.about.com/od/netw orking/a/linkedin2.htm

28. THANK YOU! UC Davis Internship and Career Center Open Mon-Fri 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, South Hall 2 nd floor Summer Drop-In Advising: Mon-Thurs, 1:30 – 3:30 pm Appointments with Coordinators Available: Call (530) 752-2855 Visit icc.ucdavis.edu