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Effective Networking Khrieu Healy [email protected] Faculty Employability Officer (Science & Health)
Effective Networking
Khrieu Healy [email protected]
Faculty Employability Officer (Science & Health)
Session Aims By the end of this session you will:
Have an understanding of the benefits of professional networking
Have the opportunity to begin to develop and apply your
networking skills
Understand how to make the most of networking opportunities
such as the Graduate Careers Fair!
What do YOU want to get out of today’s session?
What is a Network? Why Network?
Uni
Staff
Network
Uni
Staff
What do YOU want to get out of the event?
Research
– Event aim / purpose – is it relevant?
– Event logistics
– Participants / Organisations
Plan
– Target person / business
Prepare
– Your CV
– Your key messages
– Your outfit
– Your digital profile
* Never leave it until the night before
Work The Room
First Impressions…
First Impressions Last
Stand up straight
Smile
Arrive early
Look interested
Appropriate eye contact
Confident not cocky
Professional Handshake
Wait to be offered a seat
Business wear
Minimise bling
Personal hygiene Remove distractions
What do you want them to know / remember about you?
What do YOU want to know
more about?
Activity: Asking The Right Questions
Network Icebreakers
Could you tell me about your role?
Can you tell me how you first got started?
Can you tell me about your typical day?
What qualifications / attributes do you feel
are essential to successful candidates?
Could you suggest or introduce me to any
other people that I could speak with?
Safe and Unsafe Topics
• Their role / organisation
• Your degree / aspirations
• The weather
• Journey to event
• Politics
• Religion
• Jokes
• Money
• Age
Networking – A Bad Example
Networking – A Good Example
Make a Professional Exit
Network For Success
• Build network of contacts Introduce yourself – succinctly!
Make a good first impression
Show how serious you are
• Manage your contacts Appropriate follow-up
LinkedIn / CV + Cover Letter
Share relevant info
• Utilise your contacts Ask advice
Take any opportunities
What is Your USP?
Activity:
Identify your USP
Network with others to try it out
Give feedback to each other
Unique Selling Point/Proposition
Do
• Take the initiative
• Show an interest in the organisation
• Research the organisation
• Be confident
• Dress smartly
• Use examples to highlight your skills
• Follow up all contacts
• Act professionally at all times
• Be prepared mentally and physically
Don’t… • Lie!
• Forget to do your research!
• Drink / smoke beforehand
• Mumble
• Indicate that you have stalked them online
• Make remarks about their appearance
• Chew gum
• Play with your phone
• Express irrelevant opinions
• Give up
Forthcoming events* Alumni Speed Networking
– 2nd February 2016 (Govt & Sociology)
– 3rd February 2016 (EBS & Economics)
– 9th February 2016 (LiFTS & Lang and Ling)
– 11th February 2016 (Biosciences & Law)
Women in STEM
– 15th March 2016
Disability Confident
– 16th March 2016
*Book via CareerHub
Next week...
