Networking and Information Interviews: Building a Support System for Career Success, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Job Interviewing Techniques and Skills

Download Networking and Information Interviews: Building a Support System for Career Success and more Study Guides, Projects, Research Job Interviewing Techniques and Skills in PDF only on Docsity! WHAT IS NETWORKING? Networking is one of the most essential career development and job search tools that is often overlooked by students and job hunters. Networking involves developing and maintaining connections with individuals, then mutually benefitting from this developed relationship. In relation to career development, a well developed network provides you with a support system of individuals who can provide meaningful assistance to you as it may relate to your career/industry exploration, connections to other individuals and learning about potential job openings. Networking should be approached as an ongoing process that takes time and nurturing, and not something you do just when you are looking for a job. It is important to remember that networking is a two way process in which you provide beneficial support to those in your network as well. WHY IS NETWORKING IMPORTANT? Networking provides you with an opportunity to:  Connect with individuals in your field of interest that can provide beneficial insight  Gather information pertaining to a particular field or industry  Increase your chances to find out about job openings otherwise not advertised CONNECT WITH INDIVIDUALS One of the best ways to learn about an industry, company or position that you are interested in is to learn about it from someone that is connected to it firsthand. Building your connections will provide you with an invaluable opportunity to best prepare for your career goals. It is important to remember that networking is a mutually beneficial process. You never know when your skills and resources can prove to be beneficial to others in your network. Promoting your skills and interest to an individual in your network can additionally lead to opportunities to collaborate with people on projects in which professional interests are shared. GATHER INFORMATION Gaining information about a specific career related topic can be most beneficial and inspiring when it comes from the personal experience of others. Learning about a specific field of interest and the various occupations within it from an individual in the field provides you with an opportunity to gain this knowledge. Participating in an informational interview (see informational interview section) will offer an opportunity to gather this information in a structured manner. LEARN ABOUT JOB VACANCIES Ever heard of the phrase “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? It fully applies here. Approximately 66% of job vacancies are never advertised to job seekers and are instead obtained through some form of personal and professional references! Employers prefer to hire candidates that have been referred by a trusted source. They are also inclined to hire recently met job seekers who have effectively demonstrated their qualifications and professional competence. By expanding your network to include individuals that have connections to these unknown positions, you greatly increase your chances of learning about opportunities. HOW DO I ESTABLISH MY NETWORK? Networking opportunities occur on a daily basis and can include partaking in a brief conversation with someone on an elevator to an arranged meeting with a professional. There are many ways to develop your list of potential networking contacts. Begin by identifying all the people that you come in contact with through your activities. These can include:  Your friends, their parents, and family members  Your relatives and extended family  Former and current employers and co-workers  Coaches, clergy  Classmates, faculty, advisors  Club and organization members  Professional Associations  University at Albany Alumni Association members and/or those of other schools you’ve attended  UCAN – UAlbany Career Advisory Network You will have a better chance of talking or meeting with someone when you have been referred by a mutual contact. Begin to develop your networking contacts by asking people if they know someone working in your field of interest. Once you have started to initiate contact, remember to thank and stay in touch with those who assisted. For example, a student that is considering a career in Public Policy might make a list that looks similar to this: RELATION TO YOU CAREER INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS Sister Social Services Has a best friend that works in state government Professor Public Administration Knows several policy professionals from previous experience in lobbying Family Friend Accounting Has a strong professional relationship with her local mayor Neighbor Government Works for the NYS Assembly HOW TO FURTHER DEVELOP YOUR NETWORK ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKING Online social networking has become the fastest growing form of networking amongst professionals. Networking through online resources provides individuals that usually would not have a chance to connect with one another to develop an association on a professional level. Many of these sites serve as a professional networking tool to millions of global users to reconnect with classmates and colleagues, discover new connections through users and obtain answers to industry related questions through both direct contact and discussion boards. It is important to maintain a professional appearance throughout your profile pages when using these social networking sites for career purposes. Some beneficial sites to utilize include: LinkedIn  Linkedin is a business-oriented social networking site mainly used for professional networking. As of August 2014, it had more than 300 million registered users.  Students create a profile of their professional experience, which can be viewed by others, similar to a resume.  Groups are an excellent way to network and learn more about career paths. Students should join: o Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, Alumni and Friends Facebook  In addition to finding friends and updating profile pages accessible to users, members can also join professional groups and connect with other group members. Many organizations have career oriented pages, such as KPMG Careers and the Presidential Management Fellows Program.  Join the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy page for updates on events and alumni features. Twitter  Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages. Many organizations post job opportunities and events through tweets. End the meeting by asking for other contacts in the field who may be of assistance, and if you could use this person’s name as a referral. Be sure to express your gratitude for their time and the information you received. AFTER THE INTERVIEW Evaluate the success of the discussion. Did it meet your goals and objectives? Did you come away with answers to most of your questions? Did it confirm or change your impressions of the occupation or industry? Did it help prepare you for future plans? Prepare a brief thank you letter (see attached sample) outlining some specific points covered during your interview. Enclose a resume, if appropriate. Indicate that you will keep the person informed of your progress and any meeting you set up as a result of their referrals. Networking is an ongoing process that will continue to demand your time and attention. It means keeping in touch with established contacts, constantly reaching out to new ones, and is essential to your career success. QUESTIONS FOR NETWORKING AND INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS Remember, the objective in conducting an informational interview is to gain knowledge about a potential industry and to develop your network. Your questions should be tailored to your personal and career objectives and should not focus directly on obtaining a position with the employer. Here are some possible questions to facilitate your interview. Career Preparation What is the best preparation for this profession? (i.e. education, part-time work, training programs, etc. What skills or talents are most important for this field and how can they be acquired? How did you become interested in this profession/organization? What are the good and bad points about this profession? What was your undergraduate/graduate major? How did it help you prepare for your career? What additional training/education have you had? How can students find summer jobs or internships in this field? Are there other ways to get experience? Is a graduate/advanced degree important? If so, which areas of study would you recommend? What journals, magazines, books, or websites would be helpful for me to learn more about this profession? What personal attributes do you think have contributed to your success in this field? What professional organizations do you belong to? Would you recommend I join? Which of my transferable skills should I emphasize when looking for employment in the field? What skills are most valued in this profession/industry? What are some good resources for job opportunities and further research? Do you have any suggestions regarding my resume? Job Content and Responsibilities What services are provided by your organization? What is a typical day like? Do you work alone or as part of a group? Can you describe the work environment? (i.e. casual/formal, structured/flexible, etc.) Which part of the job is most challenging for you? What do you like most about your position? The least? What are the greatest pressures, strains, or anxieties in your work? What are the toughest problems or decisions with which you must cope? What are the time demands related to this field? How did you find your job? Can you describe your job history? Industry/Job Trends and Environment Tell me about the current state of the industry. What changes do you foresee in this profession/industry over the next five years? What is the outlook for jobs and career growth? In what other settings do people in this profession work? (e.g. educational institutions, corporations, non- profits, etc.) What are the titles/responsibilities of the people you work for/with? To whom do you report? What are the typical entry level positions in this field? What is the typical career path? What are the beginning, mid-range, and top salaries in this profession? Where are the best employment prospects? What are employment prospects in your company? Do you know anyone else who could share career advice with me? SAMPLE EMAIL REQUEST FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW Dear Ms. Smith, I was referred to you through Professor Bob McEvoy from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany. I am writing to introduce myself and request a possible meeting or phone call with you regarding my interest in the field of local government. Presently, I am in my first year of the MPA program at Rockefeller College, with a concentration in local government management. In the past, I participated in various internships and volunteer experiences surrounding politics, doing campaign work for Senator Schumer. Having completed one semester in the MPA program, I am now considering what my options are in pursuing full-time positions after graduation. If possible, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you for an informational interview so that I can learn more about your career path, find out about opportunities in the field, and get some advice from you as to how I can best achieve my goals. I know you are very busy and truly appreciate whatever time you can give me. I look forward to hearing from you and hope that we can set up a meeting. Thank you in advance for considering this request. Sincerely, John Doe SAMPLE THANK YOU EMAIL FOR INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW Dear Mr. Rogers: Thank you for spending time with me last Tuesday to discuss your career and the field of public finance. I was extremely appreciative of the tour of your facility as well as the introduction to your colleagues. The information you provided about your position as a Financial Analyst at the NYS Division of Budget was extremely helpful. Your description of your duties helped to clarify the distinction between public and private finance. I also appreciated your tips on entering into public finance, and will plan to follow up immediately with the contact names you shared with me. Again, thank you for your assistance. I thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and will keep you posted on my progress. Sincerely, Max Evans SAMPLE THANK YOU LETTER TO NETWORKING REFERRAL SOURCE Dear Ms. Mertz: It was a pleasure meeting you at the "Policy Conversation" sponsored by Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy last month. I appreciated your interest in my job search and would like to particularly thank you for putting me in contact with Jane Bryant at the American Red Cross in Boston. Ms. Bryant was most generous with her time and provided me with a great deal of useful information on job hunting in the Boston area. She made valuable suggestions for strengthening my resume and gave me the names of a few colleagues who might be interested in my background and skills. Enclosed is a copy of my updated resume. Feel free to make comments or suggestions. Again, thank you for being so helpful. I will keep in touch as my search progresses. Sincerely, Lucille Ricardo