2. Who am I?
Founder & president of Come Recommended
– Career and workplace education and consulting
firm specializing in young professionals
– ComeRecommended.com is a social networking
site for internship and entry-level job candidates
and employers
Entry-level careers columnist for
Examiner.com
Career expert for a number of other orgs
3. What is Networking?
Creating a two-way, mutually beneficial
relationship between yourself and a
connection
Just because you follow someone on Twitter,
read their blog or friend them on Facebook
does not mean you are reaching that end goal.
Networking goes beyond the initial meeting,
whether online or offline.
4. Networking Statistics
70-80% of jobs are filled through networking
– Employee referrals
– Unadvertised openings
– Connections with hiring managers/CEOs
5. What We’ll Cover
Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
Retaining Information
The Importance of Follow-Up
Managing Your Network
Leveraging Your Network
Tips for Shy Networkers
4 Ways To Start Networking
7. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
Elevator pitch = a short sound bite where you
explain who you are and what you’re seeking
Typically 30-60 seconds or 150-200 words
Keep it short & concise in order to hold your
listener’s attention but still get enough
information out to them
8. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
Comes in handy at networking events or
when meeting hiring managers and
recruiters
Helps you answer the interview question “Tell
me about yourself”
Share a story
– Mention past accomplishments and goals you’ve
reached (but be concise!)
9. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
What to include:
– Your name (if meeting for the first time)
– Current status:
• Are you looking for a job?
• Currently employed but looking to transition?
– What you seek:
• A job? A different field?
– Your experience, qualifications & passions
– Call to action
10. Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
Your pitch might look something like this:
– Hi, my name is (your name). I will be graduating/I
just graduated from (your school) with a degree
in (major/minor). I’m looking to (future
plans/goals). I recently ___. Can I take you out for
coffee sometime to elicit your advice?
12. Retaining Information
When you meet someone & get their
business card, take a few notes on the back to
remember important parts of your
conversation
You can also create Twitter lists or
spreadsheets of important contacts to
remember key information (such as
title/position, company, things in common,
etc.)
14. The Importance of Follow-Up
No matter where you meet someone, the
only real way to bring them into your
network is by keeping in contact with them
After your first meeting, follow-up with them
by:
– Asking him/her out to lunch or coffee
– Sending an e-mail
– Engaging with him/her on social networking
sites
15. The Importance of Follow-Up
It’s important to keep in touch with your
contacts
– You know that it’s easy to forget someone if you
don’t hear from them in a while, so don’t let
people forget about you!
17. Managing Your Network
Prioritize your contacts based on who you
want to keep in touch with and how often
– Tool: Gist.com
Add contacts in your address book, social
networking sites & phone book
19. Leveraging Your Network
Master the “art of the ask”
– Smart networkers know the strategies for
determining what to ask for, who to ask, and how
to ask for any goal they want to achieve
– Help can come almost immediately if you’ve laid
the groundwork correctly
20. Leveraging Your Network
Don’t just send an e-mail saying, “Hey, I’d like
to meet to talk about job opportunities at
your company. Are you free tomorrow?”
Instead, say, “I’m really interested in taking my
marketing degree into the fashion world.
Would you be open to a quick phone call or a
brief meeting sometime to share insights on
how you did it?”
21. Leveraging Your Network
Take cues from your contacts
– If you ask for a meeting and they’re more
comfortable with a short phone call, take it
Come prepared with good questions
23. Tips for Shy Networkers
Attend events with an outgoing friend
Reconnect with those who you already know
(former classmates, professors, neighbors,
etc.)
Ask your current contacts to introduce you to
someone they know
Start the conversation online and eventually
take it offline
25. 4 Ways to Start Networking
Make direct contact
– Research organizations where you’d like to work
and reach out directly to a C-level executive (i.e.,
CEO, president, etc.)
Join professional associations
– As a student or young professional, you often can
get discounted rates
– Get the most out of it: regularly attend meetings,
become an officer & volunteer during events
26. 4 Ways to Start Networking
Use social networking sites
– Seek out interesting people, interact with them &
strive to take the relationship offline
– Keep your profiles consistent, on-brand &
genuine
– Don’t just “friend” people – networking is about
building a relationship with your contacts
27. 4 Ways to Start Networking
Find a mentor
– Look to existing relationships (professors,
acquaintances, professionals, etc.)
– Gain advice and insight into your field and career
– Connect with other professionals that your
mentor can introduce you to
28. Questions?
Heather R. Huhman
Founder & President
Come Recommended
www.comerecommended.com
heather@comerecommended.com
Twitter: @heatherhuhman