WHERE DOES NETWORKING HAPPEN?
• Chance meetings (i.e. sitting
beside someone on an
airplane)
• Facilitated events (company
info sessions, networking
events)
• As a result of a direct request
INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS: WHY?
1. Get your foot in the door (faster)
2. Gain insight about a company, industry, or career path
3. Practice your interview and networking skills
4. Find a potential mentor
5. Show them who you are beyond your resume and cover
letter
INFO INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT
10% of your final
grade
Due Thursday April
14th
Minimum of one page
In-person and not
current UBC
student/staff/faculty
or family member
• Contact details (name, company, title, phone,
email
• List of questions asked
• Major insights gained – What did you learn during
your informational interview? **This is the most
important part, should be 40% of final paper.
• Did you request/receive any information
regarding additional connections?
• Follow up action – What will you do to maintain
this connection? *Screen shot of thank you email
required
• What are your next steps having conducted this
information interview?
assignment guidelines
NEXT STEPS TO LAND YOUR INFO
INTERVIEW
1. Find 4 or 5 potential contacts – WHERE?!
2. Research them (Google, LinkedIn) and reach out to
contacts you have in common
3. Decide what you want to talk to them about and
brainstorm questions and points of commonality
4. Send out your invites! Don’t be offended if they don’t
immediately reply
COMM 202 NETWORKING + REFLECTION
• Alumni, senior students, and local professionals convening for an
evening of networking with this semester’s COMM 202 students
• Excellent opportunity to practice and refine your networking skills
and learn more about how to make the most of your time at
Sauder!
SAVE THE DATE:
COMM202 Networking Event
Thursday, March 10th from 6-8PM
10
REFLECTION PAPER ASSIGNMENT
• Your goals in attending the event
o What is your purpose in going? Define SMART goals
beforehand
• How did you prepare for the event (research
potential delegates)?
• A brief summary of who you spoke with (3+
convos) and what you learned in the
conversations
• A reflection on the lessons you have learned
about the networking process
• Next steps you will take to continue building a
assignment requirements
10% of your final
grade
Due Monday March
14th
Minimum of one page
Submit to Turnitin by
11:59PM
RESEARCHING CONTACTS
• Be sure to check out the delegate info on the
course blog
• Skim the LinkedIn profiles of delegates you’d like
to speak to
o Note any interesting topics you’d like to know
more about
o Hone in on similar experiences or shared groups
o Think about questions to ask
• During the event, be interested without being
I had a chance to look
at your LinkedIn profile,
and I was really
interested to learn
about…
DRESSING THE PART
• The networking event is Business Casual. What does that mean to
you?
DRESSING THE PART
• For ladies:
o Dress pants, khaki pants,
dark denim, or skirts
(hemline just above your
knees or longer!)
o Blouse, dressy tank with a
cardigan or blazer, or
collared shirt (avoid
spaghetti strap tops)
o Flats or low heels
DRESSING THE PART
• For guys:
o Dress pants, nice
khakis, or dark denim
o Collared shirt
(patterned or plaid is
fine!), jacket if you like
o Dress shoes or loafers
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
• Research the
event dress
code if you
aren’t sure
what it
means!
THE APPROACH
Avoiding the awkward:
• Don’t interrupt. When joining a
networking circle, wait for a lull in the
conversation.
• Never have food and a drink, you need a
free hand to shake!
• Go with a wingman! But not a Siamese
twin
INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Just simply say hi!
• Hi, my name’s Alison, Alison Buchanan.
• Hi Alison, it’s nice to meet you. My name’s Andy.
Show you’re interested in talking to them
• Hi Andy it’s great to meet you as well. I was actually hoping to chat
with you this evening as I noticed on your LinkedIn profile that
you…and I would love to hear more about your experience.
Start the conversation. Ask a question / have them talk about
themselves / Stay positive
• Do you have any advice for students…looking to make the most of
their time at Sauder? …looking for a career in your field?
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION
• LISTEN
• Be careful not to monopolize peoples’ time
• Listen for facts, feelings, free information and implied
statements
• Introduce others, tying them into the conversation
• Identify commonalities
• Ask open ended questions
THE GRACEFUL EXIT
• Spend 5 to 10 minutes with one person; wait for a lull
• Excuse yourself kindly and assertively:
o “It was nice to meet you”
o “I’m glad you were here today. It’s been great chatting with you.
Thanks so much.”
o “I don’t want to monopolize all your time today. Thank you for taking
time to speak with me and I hope you enjoy the rest of the event.”
• Shake hands and exchange cards or ask to connect (if the
conversation was meaningful)
FOLLOW IT UP
• After great conversations, send a personalized email or
LinkedIn request (or maybe an informational interview
request? )
Hi Sabrina,
It was so great to get the chance to speak with you at last night’s
networking event. I was really inspired by what you said about “building
your personal brand”, and I am looking forward to putting your advice into
practice.
I would love to continue our conversation about your experience at YVR. I
understand that you are very busy, but it would be great to meet for about
20 minutes. Would you be available to meet on Monday or Tuesday next
week? Coffee is on me!
Thank you,
202 NETWORKING EVENT PET PEEVES
1. Asking questions and not listening to the
answer
2. Asking rapid-fire questions so no one else
can speak
3. When a person’s outfit is distractingly
unprofessional
4. When students only talk about their option
choices or career path! Try connecting over
202 NETWORKING EVENT: PRO TIPS!
1. Eat dinner beforehand
2. Do some research on the delegates, but don’t get
consumed in stalking every LinkedIn profile
3. Dress classy and comfortably
4. Have a few interesting questions / topics to chat
about ready to go. How do you want to be
remembered?
5. When all else fails, find a 202 TA and we’ll help you
join a circle
6. Head to an area that is less packed
ACTION ITEMS!
Resume & Cover Letter due
March 8th @ 2:00PM (Turnitin +
COOL)
Networking Event Thursday March
10th 6-8PM
o Networking Reflection due Monday, March
14th @11:59pm on Turnitin
Last chance for office hours!
Puppy of the week
8
Notes de l'éditeur
TA Feedback: mention the comments on Turnitin and recap how they can find them
The ultimate goal: landing the info interview
How to connect via others on LI (start thinking about info interviews, meet someone at the networking event); short term event networking
Rubric
Event prep:
Dressing the part
Description of the upcoming event (CPA Hall, paint a picture)
Reflection paper slide
Researching contacts
Approaching groups
Handshakes
Conversation topics; finding commonality
Activities: get in circles, practice hand shakes, practice introductions
Let them discuss before showing them the text
Note that we will be specifically zeroing in on facilitated events and ‘direct request’ networking
While this slide is up, would be cool just to share a personal story you had with info interview success
Also mention that for the 202 assignment, their purpose can be: “I want to make a more informed career/option choice”
Only needs to be one-page
Check out the VERY DETAILED instructions on the blog
Deadline is far away but invites should begin going out now
Lead the discussion on where they can look for contacts (events, Alumni search on LinkedIn, getting connected through friends or the BCC, friends of the family…)
There is a whole list of questions on the blog + Michelle is going over info interviews in depth in lecture
Give some guidelines on invites (but there’s a sample later on in the slides)
Show blog post of names attending
Demo this, especially if you have not yet taught the LinkedIn class
Explain how different events have different dress codes, i.e. some info sessions are BUSINESS FORMAL. What is the difference? Note that the internet is a great resource; the BCC Pinterest have put together some boards for ‘outfit inspo’
Web to web – strong, firm handshake. Web of both hands should connect. Have them practice.
Eye colour – when meeting someone you should make enough eye contact to be able to walk away knowing the colour of their eyes
Comfy shoes – for girls! A lot of standing around so make sure you wear comfy shoes
Clothes that stand out – EVERYONE will be in black suits. It is important to suit up but change it up with cool shirts, ties, grey suit etc. No perfume/cologne, breathmints not gum, no coffee, long skirts.
Nametag – always goes on your right (the same side you shake hands with). As you go to shake someones hand to intro yourself that side of your chest sticks out more.
Smile – nothing worse than someone who doesn’t look interested or passionate or excited about the conversation. It is hard to say no to a smiling idiot.
Ask: What’s your strategy to approach?
First 2 points self explanatory
First point – approach across from the professional, not next to them because they won’t notice you.
Third point – go with a wingman at first. A lot easier, less stressful and more natural to engage in 3 way conversation. Often in 2 way conversation you spend so much time trying to think of the next question to ask that you don’t pay attention to what they are saying to you right now. With 2 of you there one person can talk while the other thinks etc…..BUT DON’T STICK WITH YOUR BUDDY THE WHOLE TIME. You don’t want the professionals thinking you are dependent and can’t function without them.
Share your personal experiences here (you probably have some funny stories)
Repeat their name
ACTIVITY: try doing a handshake, introduction + a few opening questions
Tennis practice: keep the ball moving
Do we need examples of questions? Should this be a list or a link to more questions
OR activity to brainstorm good questions and share/ask each other
Demo this? Especially the business card ask. Or maybe have them try.
Reiterate that people at the event are unlikely to have business cards, but they can pave the way for a LinkedIn connection
Make sure they know that a thank you is fine! We don’t always need to push for additional face-time
Also think about how YOU can add value for that contact – it’s not just about what they can do for you
20 minutes rationale + choice between two positives
Explain check in when they arrive (either end); if late register in front of BCC
MUST do this to receive credit for assignment
Unsecured coat check
Don’t need to stay for the entire event; hard close at 8PM
So, practice active listening and have intelligent follow up questions
Share the stage with your group, introduce them, wing man for each other
Last semester, the only question I was asked was “I saw you are in BTM – can you explain what that is?”
Remind them that they’ll need to check in and should bring minimal items to coat check
Check out the delegate name tag table if they really want to know if they’re there
AFTER MAR 8: Replace Resume/CL note with: Sign up for your mock interview via COOL
Or find your Info Interview + Sign up for your mock interview