Professional Networking with Alumni

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Professional Networking with Alumni
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Consider What is Professional Networking?

• The process of gathering information to expand
  your knowledge about a career field, company, job
  function, graduate school program, or new
  geographic location.
• The development of a professional support system
  that will assist you and provide you with helpful
  career information as you mature as a
  professional.
• Strive to reciprocate helpful information and
  advice as you move along your career path.

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Consider Why network with Brandeis Alumni?

• Brandeis alumni are an excellent source of
  information and you are guaranteed to have at
  least one thing in common Brandeis!
• Connecting with people that you already have
  something in common with is often less stressful
  and often leads to a more productive exchange of
  information.

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Alumni Networking Code of Conduct Things you
should do before contacting an alumni mentor

• Assess your own interests, skills, knowledge
  areas, and personal attributes-take stock so you
  can speak about yourself with enthusiasm .
• Research information about your potential alumni
  mentor and his/her field.
• Decide what information you would like to obtain
  from your alumni mentor and prepare a list of
  questions you would like to have answered-(see
  Hiatt Networking Guidelines for examples of
  informational interview questions).
• Remember that you are representing yourself and
  Brandeis as a whole.

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Alumni Networking Code of Conduct Things you
should NOT do when contacting an alumni mentor

• Do not ask for a job or internship (Ask for
  advice, information, and other contacts).
• Do not spam with multiple e-mails or stalk with
  multiple phone calls.
• Do not act unprofessionally or negatively.
• Do not ask your alumni contact to mass distribute
  your resume.
• Do not share alumni contact information with
  others.

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Identify alumni that you would like to contact.

• Begin your alumni networking experience with
  Hiatt Career Center s - Brandeis University
  Alumni Student Professional Networking Group on
  LinkedIn (http//www.linkedin.com).
• This is an online forum to share career-related
  knowledge, information, referrals, and advice
  across industries and geographic locations.
• Once you have completed this PowerPoint
  presentation, reviewed Hiatts Networking Web
  Page, reviewed Hiatts Sample Networking Letters,
  and signed Hiatts Student Networking Contract
  you will be eligible to join Hiatts LinkedIn
  group.
• None of the obligations that come with
  traditional face-to-face networking are
  eliminated online. Treat people the way youd
  like to be treated.
• Career-related online networking should
  eventually lead to other forms of contact-phone
  conversations or in-person meetings.
• Keep an eye out for alumni and student networking
  receptions which are also a great way to meet
  with alumni.

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Writing your initial outreach/networking letter

• The most common method of making the first
  connection with a networking contact is in
  writing either an e-mail or a brief letter.
• Your letter should include a brief introduction
  about yourself, the fact that you are a Brandeis
  student, why you are writing to this individual,
  a brief statement of your interests or experience
  in the persons field, organization, or location
  and why you would like to speak with them. Be
  straight-forward tell him/her you are asking for
  information and advice.
• If you would like to meet in person or via phone,
  ask for fifteen minutes to a half-hour of the
  persons time.
• Your last paragraph should always include a
  sentence about how and when you will contact this
  person again. THEN MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW-UP.
  Usually this involves a phone call to set up a
  phone appointment or an in-person meeting. Never
  expect the person to phone you.
• Proofread all of your correspondence. DO NOT use
  informal slang Hey Dude.
• You may enclose or attach a resume, or make sure
  your LinkedIn profile is complete, so the person
  can get a better sense of your background.
  

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During a Phone Conversation or In-person
Meeting

• Be polite, respectful, and charming!
• Dress professionally for in-person meetings.
• Have 10-15 appropriate questions ready to ask for
  a half hour conversation, (see Hiatt Networking
  Guidelines for examples of informational
  interview questions).
• Be prepared for the person to ask you about your
  interests and experiences.
• Take notes after your interactions. They may be
  helpful to refer to when reflecting on your
  conversation and conducting follow-up.
• Be respectful of the persons time and keep the
  conversation short they will let you know if
  they have additional time to share.
• Say Thank You at the conclusion of your
  conversation!

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After your Conversation

• Send a thank you note within 24-48 hours.
• Ask yourself What did I learn from my
  conversation? How does what I learned fit with my
  own interests, abilities, goals, and values? What
  more would be helpful to know? What plan of
  action can I make?
• If your contact refers you to others, follow-up
  with them. Make sure to immediately mention your
  mutual contact, and why the person you originally
  spoke with thought they might be helpful.
  Remember to abide by all of the previously
  mentioned rules regarding timing, etiquette, and
  thank you notes.
• Keep your contacts informed. If your original
  contact referred you to someone who was helpful,
  share that with her/him. Likewise, if a
  particular resource or research avenue was
  fruitful, let the person know.
• Brandeis alumni are often sincerely interested in
  helping you and are curious about what ultimately
  happens in your career.

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Review Additional Hiatt Networking Resources

• Hiatt Web Site Career Toolbox-Networking
• Hiatt Web Site Career Toolbox-Cover
  Letter-Optimal Letter Writer
• Hiatt Handout Sample Networking Letters
• Hiatt Web Site Career Toolbox-Thank You Notes