Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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What is networking?

Careers Adviser Abi Sharma

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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• What is networking?

• Where do you ‘network’?

• How do you do it?!

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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What is networking?

How do you view it?

Preconceptions? Concerns? Like it / dislike it?

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Benefits

Answers

Advice

Assistance

Advocacy

Alliance

Increasing commitment, time and effort on behalf of contact.

Increasing need for a strong relationship.

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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What is networking?

Networking is about making connections

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Where do you use networking?

With potential employers e.g. fairs /

assessment centres

Finding out about work experience and

job opportunities

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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The Assessment Centre!!!

Dinner / Drinks

Aim: to see your

Interpersonal skills

Interest in the organisation

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Have a go!!!!

You have 5 minutes to find out as many things in common with your partner as possible. Once found a common point hold a piece of string between you. Remember what it is! Winning pair have most pieces of string.

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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With an employee…

• How long have you worked at the organisation?

• What do you most enjoy about your job?• What social things do they organise?• How come they became interested in it?• What’s the work life balance like? Time for

things outside of work?

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Top tips for easy conversation!

• Conversation openings:

- something about you

- ask about them: where from? First assessment centre? Which uni? Do they like it? What study? How hear about job? Whom met so far? Impression so far?

• Use open questions - those that don’t solicit just a yes/no answer: what, where, when, how?

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• Taking conversation on…

- What’s coming up in final year study?

- Any trips planned before start work?

- Looking forward to leaving uni / not?

- What are their friends applying to?

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• Getting out of conversation politely…

- Been a pleasure to talk to you. Be lovely to talk some more later. If you’d excuse me …

• Offer to introduce them to someone else

or suggest you join others• Toilet / drink!

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Looking for jobs / work experience

When you meet someone at an employer

event / fair:• Be likeable e.g. smile & be yourself!• Be purposeful - know what you want to get out

of the conversation• Remember the 5 As - what is realistic to get

out of the conversation at this point?• Etiquette! Thank them / email thanks.

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Making the most of a personal contact to find work

- use email not phone to introduce self

- ask if time to meet / email list of qu.

- be honest: they’ve all been there!

- Don’t: ask for job / give your CV / ask for a job recommendation

- Go with clear idea of what you want to achieve and quetsions to ask

- Follow up with thank you email/call

- Make sure they have your contact details

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

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Any questions?

Careers Servicewww.careers.qmul.ac.uk

16Queen Mary Careers ServiceWG3 Queens Building – 020 7882 5065

Opening times:Monday-Thursday 10.30am-5pmFriday 10.30am-4pm

Drop-in sessions:Monday-Thursday 10.30am-12.30pm

2.00pm-4.30pm

Part of

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