COMM 202Tutorial 6: Networking + Info Interview
LAPTOPS & PHONES AWAY! NAME TENTS OUT!

AGENDA For today
TA Feedback
Networking
Informational Interview
Action Items

Course Timeline
Resume + Cover Letter due Tomorrow!
Week 9 Week 13Week 10 Week 12
• Lecture: Preparing
for an interview
• Tutorial:
Interview
questions
• Interview
Stream due
(March 31st
11:59PM)
Week 11
• Lecture:
Informational
interview
• Post-networking
reflection due
(March 14th
11:59PM)
• Tutorial:
Networking/Inform
ational Interview
• Networking event!
March 9th, 6-8PM in
CPA Hall!
• Lecture:
When
you’ve got
the job!
• Interviews
(Apr. 3rd to
Apr. 6th)
• Informationa
l Interview
Assignment
(Apr. 14th @
11:59PM)

Your
Feedback for me

START• Making assignments more clear
• Speaking more slowly and more in-depth
• Presenting more real life examples
• Talking about what TAs look for in assignments
• More class activities
• Accepting assignments after the 5min deadline J

STop

continue• Quick email responses + weekly emails
• Playing music
• Funny pictures and GIFs on slides and emails
• Showing timelines of what is due
• Making awesome powerpoints
• Being awesome (Thank you)
• Being approachable and friendly

Moving on . . .

Where does
networking happen?

Chance
Meetings.

Facilitated
Events.

Via Direct
Request.

Why we network
• Get your foot in the door (faster)
• Gain insight about a company, industry, or career path
• Practice your interview and networking skills
• Find a potential mentor
• Show them who you are beyond your resume and cover letter

How do you feel about

The COMM 202
Networking event

Your very own networking event
SAVE THE DATE!
Thursday, March 9th from 6:00pm-8:00pm @ CPA Hall
• 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!

The POST-networking reflection
10%
1. your goals in attending the event
• what is your purpose in going? define SMART goals beforehand
2. how did you prepare for the event (research potential delegates)
• what was it about these people that motivated you wanting to talk to them?
3. conversation summaries (3+ conversations) and what you learned in these conversations
4. reflection of the lessons learned
5. action steps to build relationship with new contact
6. minimum one page
Due Mar. 14, 11:59 pm via Turnitin.com

Researching Delegates
• 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
o Hone in on similar experiences or shared groups
o Think about questions to ask

Find this on the blog

How should I dress?

For people who identify as women:
Top
• Blouse
• Collared
Shirt
• Dressy Tank
with
Cardigan
Dress code
Bottoms
• Dress pants
• Khaki pants
• Dark denim
• Skirts
Shoes
• Flats
• Heels
Dress is what you’re most comfortable in!

For people who identify as men:
Top
• Collared
shirt
• Jacket if
you like
• Tie if you
like
Dress code
Bottoms
• Dress pants
• Khaki pants
• Dark denim
Shoes
• Dress shoes
• Loafers
Dress is what you’re most comfortable in!

Look good
Feel good*
*And Dress business casual.

This is how you will succeed
Web to web Eye color
Name tag on right Smile J
Comfy Shoes

Assessing the room
• Look for singles or doubles!
• You want to be memorable - the
less people in your circle the
easier that becomes!

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

Keep it simple
Just simply say hi!
• Hi, my name’s Ali.
• Hi Ali, it’s nice to meet you. My name’s Sam.
Show you’re interested in talking to them
• It’s great to meet you as well, Sam. 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

Exiting the right way
• 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)

Don’t forget to follow up
• After great conversations, send a personalized email or LinkedIn
request (or maybe an informational interview request? J )
Hi Sam,
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 McKinsey. 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,
Ali Jatoi

What it’ll look like

The Common Pet Peeves
• Asking questions and not listening to the answer
• Asking rapid-fire questions so no one else can speak
• When a person’s outfit is distractingly unprofessional
• When students only talk about their option choices or
career path!
o Try connecting over a common interest beyond
work and school

The Pro Tips
• Eat dinner beforehand
• Do some research on the delegates, but don’t get
consumed in stalking every linkedin profile
• Dress classy and comfortably
• Have a few interesting questions / topics to chat about
ready to go. How do you want to be remembered?
• When all else fails, find a 202 ta and we’ll help you join a
circle
• Head to an area that is less packed
• Manage your energy – take a breather if you need it

So. How do you feel?

Any questions?

The
Informational
Interview

The Informational Interview Assignment
1. Contact details (name, company, title, phone, email)
2. List of questions asked
3. Major insights gained – what did you learn during your informational
interview? **This is the most important part, should be 40% of final
paper**
4. Did you request/receive any information regarding additional
connections?
5. Follow up action – what will you do to maintain this connection? *Screen
shot of thank you email required
6. What are your next steps having conducted this information interview?
20%

The Informational Interview Assignment
• Due April 14th at 11:59PM
• Minimum of two pages
• In-person and NOT a current UBC student/staff/faculty
or family member
• Look at potential questions on the course blog

Steps to land an informational Interview
1. Find 4 or 5 potential contacts
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

Informational Interview Timeline
Week 10 Week 14Week 11 Week 13Week 12
• Determine
potential
informational
interview
candidates
• Compose and
send first round
email
• Have interview
date/time
confirmed
• Brainstorm
questions for
interview
• Compose and
send second
round email
• Informational
interview
assignment due
(Apr 14th 11:59PM)

This is
important

Resume + Cover letter submissions
You will be submitting your documents TWICE:
1. Once on Turnitin.com for marking – 2PM TOMORROW
2. Secondly to COOL for the Employment Interview assignment – 11:59 pm
TOMORROW AS WELL
Just do it at the same time so you don’t forget…
Full instructions on how to submit to COOL are on the course blog under
”Assignments” à “Resume and Cover Letter”

STORY TIME: A
NETWORKING
SUCCESS STORY

Action items
1. Resume & Cover Letter due
TOMORROW
2. Networking event THURSDAY 6-8PM
3. There are office hours today
4. Next week is LECTURE

STORY TIME: A
NETWORKING
SUCCESS STORY

once upon a time, celia was at a networking event…

once upon a time, celia was at a networking event…
(old friend)

Hey,girl!
Hey,girl!Whatareyouuptothesedays?
oh,youknow,coolstuffinsanfran.how
aboutyou?
sweet!ohyouknow,justlookingfor
summerinternships.
ohnice!you’reintosocial/environmental
impactright?
suream!

right.ohhey!doyouknowjason?
jason?IthinkI’veheardofhimbutdon’t
knowhimwell.
oh he’s working for this super cool social
finance company I think. you should totally
reach out on linkedin and tell him I referred
you.
Wow,that’dbeawesome,thanks!I’ll
definitelyreachout!
heynoworries!anythingtohelpasista
out.

thenext day, celiagoes to lookthis fellowup on linkedin…

thenext day, celiagoes to lookthis fellowup on linkedin…

omg
omg
omg
omg
omg
omg

obviously, celia shoots this guy a message and request to connect on linkedin

he connects! success! now what?

coffee happens
didyouknowwe’rehiringsummerinterns?
saywhat??
yeah.we’reonlylookingforco-opstudents
though.
damn.I’mnotinco-op.
I’llseewhatIcando.

omg
omg
omg
omg
omg
omg

a few days go by…

omg

the interview happens.