Networking and Professional Communication

NETWORKING AND

COMMUNICATING LIKE A

PROFESSIONAL

WHY DO YOU NEED TO NETWORK?

According to US Labor Department statistics:

85% of search efforts should be focused on developing and nurturing your network.

15% should be focused on responding to ads or blindly sending out resumes.

77%

6%

11%

4% 2%

How Jobs are Found

Networking

Search Firms

Classified Ads

Self Employed

http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/20121015-softskills/20121015-softskills-5-Networking.htm

COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS

You tube link: http://youtu.be/ZcOCJbvUY-w

COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING

Truth - ALL HIRING is based on conversations.

MAKE THIS YOUR

NETWORKING STRATEGY -

Get into good conversations with a variety of people

as often as possible. It is the quickest, most successful way to network.

These are often people to whom you are already connected.

NETWORKING AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO

COMMUNICATE

Where do you find people to have conversations?

• Social Media

• Alumni Networks

• Community Networks

• Professional Associations

SOCIAL MEDIATHE GOOD

THE BAD

THE UGLY

91% of hiring managers surveyed said they use social

networking sites to screen prospective employees.

Ma

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SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS NETWORKING

THE GOOD

1. It helps you to develop and showcase your

"personal brand."

2. It connects you to the hidden job market - many

opportunities are never posted .

3. It helps you build your professional network

quickly, this is crucial to a job search.

4. It allows you to research industries, companies,

and IMPORTANT PEOPLE.

5. It makes you visible to hiring managers,

recruiters, and other decision makers.

HOW DO EMPLOYERS SCREEN APPLICANTS?(THE POTENTIALLY BAD IF YOU AREN’T USING IT PROPERLY)

So

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inke

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Info

gra

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ics

Lock down social media accounts except for the ones you can use in a professional capacity.

Untag yourself from questionable photos, offensive comments, criticisms against current or former employers, political rants, negative comments.

Don't post things that can be interpreted as: Sexist, Racist, Lewd, or otherwise offensive ANYWHERE or ANYTIME!

Keep private conversations private. Do not use wall posts or comments to share personal stories, emotions, relationships, etc.

Everything you put online stays out there….somewhere!

Anyone, including prospective employers, can see it.

(The UGLY)

TOOLS FOR SUCCESSFUL

NETWORKING &

COMMUNICATION

CITADEL ALUMNI DIRECTORY

Limitations - not all alumni have profiles, some are out of date.

Benefits – It has over 16,000 members. It is simply too large to ignore!

Juniors and Seniors have FREE

access to the CAA online Alumni

Directory. Only current and paid

Alumni Association members can

access and search the database.

Professional and Social Media Tools Critical to Cadets and Recent Graduates, Growing Your Professional

Network with LinkedIn and the Citadel Alumni Directory , By Jack Liles, ‘85

LINKEDIN

A LinkedIn profile is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to create, grow, and foster your brand.

Continuously update your profile.

Follow companies.

Join professional groups.

Ask to connect with alumni and professionals within field.

Having a strong online profile is beneficial to students, job seekers, and all business professionals in our networked

economy.

hireCitadel Career Network

1. Create a simple profile (or clean up your existing one).

2. Have minimal graphics and widgets.

3. Limit the photos you post.

4. Post content relevant to your job search or career.

5. Choose your Friends wisely.

1. Put your "elevator pitch" in your bio.

2. Use a professional avatar.

3. Have a custom background giving

details about your qualifications.

4. Have a link to your online resume.

5. Follow industry experts in your

industry on Twitter.

6. Get targeted job tweets sent to your

Twitter feed or mobile phone.

FACEBOOK TWITTER

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS

1. NEVER ASK FOR A JOB OR INTERNSHIP. The contact may not have a job to offer and doesn’t even know you yet!

2. Have intelligent, conversational questions.

3. Ask for advice developing skills.

4. Potentially ask for a resume review (at the end IF the opportunity presents itself).

5. Always follow up with a nice email or handwritten note and STAY IN TOUCH!

The goal of an Informational interview is to develop

meaningful contacts and to truly seek ADVICE and

DIRECTION related to a potential career field.

CONDUCTING INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS

Conduct as many of these as

possible in your free time.

Look for alumni, decision

makers, recruiters, or other

people who may be in the

know.

Have intelligent, industry

related questions.

Focus on the industry, the

profession, the person - YOU

COME LAST!

Ask for ADVICE or

DIRECTION , then take it!

Always send a nice follow-up

email or thank you. STAY IN

TOUCH!

DO NOT get frustrated if you do not get a call back or an email. Find another contact.

DO NOT be late!

DO NOT ask for a job, internship –Ask for Information!

DO NOT say anything off color or unprofessional (even if the person with whom you are speaking does).

DO NOT assume you have their respect because you are a Citadel student.

DO DO NOT

HOW DO YOU GET THE BALL ROLLING?

If requesting by phone:

"Hello ___,

My name is ____. I am a ___ (Senior, Junior) at The Citadel, majoring in ___. I am very interested in learning more about entering a career in __. To help me in this regard, The Citadel Career Center is advising I conduct several short Informational Interviews with someone who can offer advice and direction . Please let me know if this is something you may be available for.

Also, if I can be of any assistance to you, please let me know. I appreciate your help, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Kind Regards,

Name

[email protected]

843-953-1616

The Citadel, Class of 2015

Career Planning Guide - Informational Interview p.17

EXTRA TIPS AND TOOLS TO MAKE

COMMUNICATION EASIER

BUSINESS CARDS

Networking and business cards go hand in hand.

A business card doesn’t replace the résumé, but

include your Linkedin profile or other relevant details.

It is often not practical to have a résumé with you

in a networking scenario.

THE ELEVATOR PITCH

Part 1 - “My name is Page Tisdale. I’m a junior at The Citadel majoring in Health and Exercise Science. I’m also a student athlete on the women's soccer team and have been involved in campus leadership positions and our service learning program. I'd like to know more about your internship program in marketing. I hope to pursue a career in Sports Marketing after college.”

They say something here. If you need more, add on!

Part 2 - Last summer I completed an internship with Level Wing Marketing and learned about data analytics. I’m hoping to develop some more creative marketing skills to add to that. I have interest in healthcare, but have knack for business too. In the future I’m hoping to combine these two very different disciplines and find myself a career that includes them both.”

“Tell me about yourself” is a questions

you should be able to communicate

with ease on ALL occasions.

DO I GIVE MY NETWORK CONTACT

MY RESUME?

Offering an unsolicited resume

can be awkward (and

considered unprofessional).

Don’t be afraid to ask for

feedback on your resume if the

opportunity presents itself.

Do be prepared to send it

quickly if asked.

CLOSE THE LOOP ON NETWORKING Send a nice follow-

up email (at a

minimum).

However, a hand-

written thank you

really makes an

impact.

Few gestures have

a greater impact

than a mailed

Thank-You note.

Find a way to keep

in touch with your

connections, even

if it is just a link to a

neat article every

now and then.

Send a nice follow-up email (at a

minimum) and a hand-written thank

you to really make an impact.

NEVER LET YOUR FIRST INTERVIEW BE YOUR

FIRST INTERVIEW!

Know what the STAR technique Develop 5 core stories about yourself:

1. Your skills, ability & education

2. Your strengths

3. A challenge (a “weakness”)

4. Your leadership capacity

5. You ability to problem solve

Rehearse but don’t memorize the stories and have these in your toolbox. No matter WHAT you are asked, you can give an examples.

Communicating your skills in an interview is not as easy as

you think. USE INTERVIEWSTREAM!

Click here for an InterviewStream Sample

VOICE MAIL AND PHONE MESSAGES

Incoming Voice Mail:

“Hello, you have reached Page Tisdale. I am sorry I missed your call. Please leave me your name & number and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Leaving a Voice Mail:

“Hello, Miss Thompson. This is Page Tisdale. I am a Junior at The Citadel. I am sorry I missed you, but I would like to follow up regarding my interview. I am still very interested in the Training Development position. I can be reached at 843-953-1616. Again, that number is 843-953-1616. I will try to call again Monday at 1:00. Also, please feel free to contact me if you need to. Thank you, have a great weekend!

SET YOU YOUR VOICEMAIL!

USE THE CAREER CENTER AS A RESOURCE!

1. Resume Blitz Fri. 12:30-2:30 MCH.

2. Drop-in 1:00-3:00 Mon.-Thurs., The

Citadel Career Center.

3. Attend The Spring Career Fair FEB

25th 12:30-4:00 Alumni Center.