Networking Skills for International Students Presentation by Ellen O’Brien International Careers Consultant e.obrien@bham.ac.uk

• Defining career networking

• Why network?

• What’s your networking strategy?

• Tactics for networking

• Your next steps to becoming expert networkers • Resources

Aims of the session

How do you feel about networking?

• What do you think employers want from international students?

• Discuss in groups

Employers want…

• Experience of working in the UK • Excellent language skills • A range of transferable skills

(employability) • Cultural awareness and adaptability • Creative and targeted job hunting • Effective applications

1. Information for decision-making, opportunity sourcing and applications

2. A connection to opportunities for skill development, work experience, business, your next job and future promotion

3. Reciprocal relationship allows you to share your experience and contacts and give to others

4. An essential tool for career entry and career management throughout our lives

5. Over half of all jobs are found through networking channels

Why we all need to network

What is networking? What it isn’t • Meeting one-off contacts who get you something • A drawer full of business cards • Making direct approaches with a request for jobs

What it is • Building strong, lasting relationships • Using existing skills in focused way • Making the most of arranged and chance meetings • Following up your contacts • Being prepared to play the long game

Definition of networking?

Networking is building and developing mutually

beneficial relationships

Identifying your current network using a

network map

My network

Previous colleagues

Students

Professional bodies

Work contacts

Family

University Careers events

Clubs & societies Staff

Extended

Immediate Current

practitioners

Friends

Local community

Suppliers

Current colleagues

Customers

Local branch Social

networking

Linked-in Facebook

Courses & events

Spend 3 minutes creating your own simple network map

Activity

My network

Explore opportunities for connecting people in your network to each other

Look for contact ‘clusters’ – connected groups that could

benefit from being introduced to each other Identify your ‘connectors’ who can act as

mediators/matchmakers for people with mutual interests

Using your network map

Good relationship

Know

Like

Trust

Be open & genuine about who you are, what interests you – back it up!

Don’t be pushy – ask open questions Actively listen to the other person – take

an interest Show that you’ve prepared for the event

That you will behave decently if provided with a contact/given

advice – act on it professionally

How NOT to build your know, like, trust factor

To a company: What do you do then? What job can you offer me? Can I give you my CV to pass onto HR? To alumni: Can you get me a job in your organisation?

Can you look at my CV? To professional bodies: Can you send my CV to your membership?

How to build your know, like, trust factor

To a company: I’m interested in…. sector/industry because….I have achieved/completed …. What advice do you have for me about how I could boost my CV and increase my chances of getting in?

To alumni: I’m interested that you got into this profession through…. route and it’s something I hadn’t considered. I have achieved/completed…. would you recommend the route that you took for me?

How to build your know,

like, trust factor

How to build your know,

like, trust factor To professional bodies: I’m not a member of….however I was reading your website yesterday and have seen some really good local events such as…. that would help me because…. Is it possible for me to attend….Who would I need to contact?

Prepare your Elevator Pitch

How to build your know, like, trust factor

• Professional bodies • Industry/sector events (eg branch events, training courses) • Course-organised external input (eg guest lecturers,

industry experts) • On campus careers events – fairs, presentations, drop-ins • Networking organisations (eg AIESEC, Chambers of

Commerce, networking clubs) • Student networking opportunities (eg student societies,

sports clubs, syndicate groups) • Social events and if working.. • Colleagues, customers, suppliers and networking events

Opportunities for Networking

Networking groups

• Usually focus on promoting business products/services or social networking sites

• Often run by industry bodies, professional organisations, networking clubs

• How does membership fit in with your networking goals?

Career networking in the virtual community

• Key components include blogs, online forums/chat-rooms, social networking websites and business/professional websites

• Fundamental difference from face-to-face networking is that social networking allows you to stay on periphery, observing discussion and transactions

1. Define your goals prior to each prearranged networking opportunity - Who? What can you share? What do you hope to gain?

2. Research the individual and organisation prior to approach

3. Keep records of contacts made and action agreed

4. Follow-up your network contacts – keep them informed

Networking tactics

• If you arrived with someone, split up • Introduce yourself • Be prepared to remember names • Start with positive subjects • Ask questions to show a keen interest • Gather positive information about individuals that

you can bring back into a conversation later • Be prepared to make personal disclosures • Be prepared to introduce others and broker

connections • Use a clear and short statement to close the

conversation, agreeing any follow-up

How to behave in networking situations

• We are all doing it already – but we may need to be doing it more effectively and in a more planned way

• For some it comes naturally, for others we need to work at it

• Effective career networking needs a positive mindset, applying the skills we already have, a strategy and a set of tactics

• Avoid network overload – create, develop and maintain the networks that really matter

Putting networking into practice

Last year’s event

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JIkjLDPeoc

Elevator Speech

• Hook/Introduction

• 3 USPs

• Outcome?

Elevator Speech

• Preparation • First Impressions • Introduction • Business Cards • Be positive • Build relationships • Look for opportunities • Remember • Maintain your network

Top Tips!

Now it’s your turn!

Someone who shares your career goal

Someone who has a similar hobby/interest

Someone who has developed a new skill since

starting their course at Birmingham

Someone who has had a good networking experience

before

Someone who has achieved something outside of their

studies

Someone who can help you in some way with your

career goal

Name………………………………

Name………………………………

Name……………………………… Name………………………………

Name………………………………

Name………………………………

Ty and speak to at least two people. Find out their names. Introduce yourself, get the conversation going and fill out their name against the matching box

Print: Brilliant Networking (2008), Pearson Prentice-Hall, Harlow Vault Guide to Schmoozing (2001), Lerner M et al, New York Video: Can I have a few minutes of your time, AGCAS, 1997 Websites: www.brilliantnetworking.net www.businessnetworking.co.uk www.questcareer.com/networking_skills.htm www.linkedin.com e.obrien@bham.ac.uk

Career networking – key resources