Random Acts of Networking

There is this great line I have grown accustomed to hearing: “business casual is the most bleh thing in the world”. And the truth is that when I think of business casual, I too think of crowded recruiting events with 200 people suited up and trying to get a chance to talk with just one of the recruiters. This is what we are primed to think about when we think of networking and, if you are like me, it creates anxiety and stress.

When I hear this, however, I also realize that networking is actually so much more than just pushing through fellow students to try to talk to recruiters. In fact, this is only the very surface of what networking is. Yes, what we hear is true: networking is the way to land a job in today’s world. However, this involves so much more than simply going to recruiting events and talking to current employees and recruiters. In fact, it starts much earlier than these events with “random” acts of networking.

On a side-note: networking is not limited to recruiters and employers. However, since it is on top of my mind and yours too, it is what I will focus on!

The Email

If a company is recruiting at Rice, it is likely that they have Rice alumni working in their company. With LinkedIn and Sallyportal at our fingertips, it is incredibly easy to find these Rice graduates by simply searching for Rice alumni who now work at the desired company. We are a network, and it is likely that when this current employee gets your email, they will respond – and you will have started opening the door at this particular company.

So how do you phrase this email? Say that you are interested in this particular position. Maybe it’s an engineering position at an oil firm. Demonstrate your interest, mention that you attend Rice, and ask if it is okay to have a phone call. This is your first step in starting a meaningful relationship with employers.

The Phone Call

It is likely that a current employee will be happy to set up a phone call to talk about their awesome job to a fellow Rice student. Here is your chance to begin solidifying the relationship between you and the company. However, it is important to come prepared for this phone call. The current employee is going to let you drive the conversation – so have questions prepared to ask them. What is it that you want from this person? What questions do you have about the job or the position? Are you curious how it is that they landed the job? What can they tell you about their recruiting experience, and their current experience on the job?

If you ask intelligent questions, the current employee may be willing to help you out even further. However, in order to do this, you need concrete next steps. It is not enough to simply have a phone call with a current employee at a company. You need to find out whether there is anyone else that you need to contact, the next steps in applying, and tips on how to land the job. Furthermore, you need to make sure that you are able to contact this person again in the future. ASK WHETHER IT IS OKAY TO CONTACT THEM WITH MORE QUESTIONS. Thank them and follow up with them in the future.

Reaching Out After Some Time

Say that you have talked to this employee or recruiter, had a phone call with them and chatted about the next steps. You’ve taken these steps, but want to have another phone call to continue solidifying your relationship with the recruiter, but it has been some time, and you do not know how to reach out to them. How do you do this?

I’ve always found this difficult to do. However, I think the best approach is finding the email chain where you set up the conversation and respond to this email chain. This way the recruiter remembers who you are and the context of your previous conversation.

Owl Network

This blog is about networking with recruiters and current employees, but the truth is that most networking happens every day here on campus. We are a diverse network of primarily friends, but also researchers, doctors, teachers, and other professionals. Having regular lunches with interesting people you meet on campus is a great way to stay in touch! If you are a freshman or sophomore, join organizations and clubs. Go to social events and meet people.  If you are a junior or senior, maintain the relationships with organizations and clubs throughout your time at Rice.

Most importantly, be genuinely interested in their lives and experiences. As Rice students, we do great things and are so excited to talk about them to anyone who asks. So ask someone about themselves, and you’ll likely be surprised by what you learn.

ivangallego

 

Ivan Gallego is a Peer Career Advisor from Brown College.  He is a senior majoring in cognitive science.

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