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Network Your Way to the Job or Internship You Want

Learning how to network, to build and create connections, is key to your career development and success. Whether you are looking for an internship, getting your first job, or changing your career path, networking provides valuable information at every stage of the job search process. Networking is about building relationships and connections in a purposeful, organized way. Networking is not quickly acquiring names of people just to get a job.

Why Network
Networking is considered one of the most effective ways find jobs and internships by JHU students and by college students nationwide. There are a variety of job search strategies; however, networking results in an average of 60% to 80% of all job offers.

Through networking you can learn about career opportunities, specific organizations, industries and career fields. Professionals already working in the fields that interest you are typically the best sources of this type of information. They can offer specific inside views that can’t be duplicated. They can also connect you to individuals in their network who can provide additional assistance.

Key Resources
Networking handout (pdf)
inCircle - inCircle is an online, searchable database of about 100,000 JHU alumni provided by the Alumni Relations Office. This is a superb resource allowing students to find alumni to talk to about careers and job/internship opportunities. You can search for alumni by major, graduation year, current employer, and more.

• Guide to Professional and Trade Associations and Labor Unions
• JobWeb - Professional Association Links
• The Scholarly Societies Project

The Encyclopedia of Associations can be found in most library reference collections and contains information about 135,000+ nonprofit membership organizations worldwide

How to Network

The following tips will provide you with the basic steps to begin building a network as it relates to your career interests and job search. For more detailed information check out the Networking Handout (pdf). If you need assistance with any part of this process, consult a career counselor.

Networking Preparation

Explore your interests and your skills. You must be able to articulate who you are and what you are lloking for. Ask yourself these questions before you begin networking:

Can you clearly state your career interests? Can you describe the type of position you are seeking? Can you list five job related skills and abilities that you do well? Do you know what is important to you in a working environment? Are you aware of your geographical preferences and limitations? Have you researched salary ranges and determined the salary range you will consider?

Create a list of contacts. Write down the names of people you know: friends and their parents, family members, faculty, neighbors, co-workers, supervisors, family doctor, broker, banker, realtor, etc.— people you have met through your participation in volunteer activities, school organizations, professional organizations, internships, etc. Your objective is to develop a list as long as possible. At this point, don’t worry if your contacts know about the field that interests you or how you are going to contact them. Simply make the list.

Organize your list of contacts. Review your list and determine whom you should contact first based on your career field. If you have a specific location in which you are looking for a position, contact individuals in that area or individuals that may have contacts in that area.

If you are not very comfortable with networking, start with those individuals that you feel most comfortable contacting. It is important to have a starting point. Need more contacts? Consider the following avenues identifying and developing new contacts:

• inCircle
• Professional associations, on and off campus
• Career Center programs: networking events, alumni and industry panels
• Campus recruiting events: career fairs, company information sessions
• Community job fairs
• Social activities
• Blogs, social networking sites and listservs
• Professional and industry journals
• Chambers of Commerce: events and directories

Making Networking Contacts

After you have determined whom to contact, there are several ways you can contact them (phone, email, or letter). During these initial contacts, do not ask for a job. Instead, schedule a meeting, either in-person or over the phone, when the two of you can talk. This process may seem intimidating. The Networking Handout (pdf) has many useful tips. For assistance with this process, meet with a career counselor to discuss this process.

Approach the conversation much like an informational interview. Simply ask questions that get people talking about jobs and careers. Listen, take notes, and discuss your interests and skills as appropriate.

Here are examples of effective networking questions. If you need assistance or just want to fine tune your networking skills, contact the Career Center to schedule a meeting with a career counselor.

Information about the Industry: Are there any groups or professional organizations that I could become involved with? What industry publications would you suggest I read? What companies and people are significant? Is the industry growing or shrinking? What challenges are facing companies in this industry?

Advice about How to Approach Your Job Search:
Is my resume in the right format for this industry? What do people in this industry typically look for in a manager or sales rep or engineer? What types of people do well in this field? Do you have any suggestions for approaching a job in this industry?

Referrals to Others:
You have been very helpful today. Can you think of anybody else that I could talk with to get more of this same type of information? Who is a good resource to talk to about this industry/area? May I tell them you referred me to them?

Future Opportunities:
Feel free to keep my resume in your files. Feel free to pass it on to someone else who might be interested in somebody like me.

Networking Follow Up

Building your professional network means staying in touch with your contacts. Send a thank-you letter to everyone who has assisted you, even if it is someone you know well. For tips on writing letters, review the Employer Correspondence Handout (pdf). Let your contacts know that you appreciate and value their suggestions and plan to take action on them. Keep your contacts informed as you follow up on their advice. Even after you get a job you should work to maintain professional contact with your network. Your network can help you with career development throughout your life.