Networking: The Do's and Don'ts

Networking: The Do’s and Don’ts

Do: Contact any and all connections you have

Don’t: Wait months to get in touch with a contact someone gives you

Do: Be forward in arranging a meeting/informational interview

Don’t: Ask for a job or position interview right away

Do: Dress up for your meeting

Don’t: Show up in jeans because it is just a coffee house- first impressions are everything!

Do: Make a little bit of small talk about things unrelated to the job you are seeking

Don’t: Get right down to business and expect them to have all the answers

Do: Ask what they look for in a potential candidate and what an average day is like at their office

Don’t: Whip out your resume and say, “I am qualified, hire me”

Do: Talk about things you are interested in doing in a potential job

Don’t: Rule anything out or say something like, “I’m only interested in…”

Do: Ask if they have an intern or entry-level program and how one would go about applying for it

Don’t:  Ask when you can interview

Do: Send them with a hard copy of your resume and a business card

Don’t: Rely on the fact that they saved the previous email copy of your resume you sent

Do: Thank them profusely. Mention the insight and advice they gave and how beneficial it was. Follow up with a written thank you note. Their address will be on the business card they gave you.

Don’t: not write a thank you note.

Do: Follow-up periodically. Even if you know they are not hiring until the summer, get in touch every month or so to keep your name fresh in their minds

Don’t: Wait months to re-connect and then expect them to help you out with a job

This is what has worked for me so far, and most of the networking that I have done has produced very positive results. Sometimes it isn’t what you know, but whom you know!