Networking is all about talking to people you know, and those you meet, about your career goals and the types of opportunities you’re interested in. It can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be scary. Start with roommates, teammates, friends, relatives, advisors, coaches, professors and branch out from there.
Why do we recommend it? Because 70-80% of positions* are found through networking contacts. These conversations are not the place to ask for a job, but by building a network of professional connections you are more likely to hear about a position before it gets posted publicly.
Types of Networking
All networking can happen both virtually and in person; neither method is in inherently better or worse. Preference, convenience, location, or schedule might influence which you use for a given interaction.
Informal
Exactly as it sounds, informal networking happens as you live your life and includes interactions like making new friends or acquaintances or chatting with people while getting coffee. It can be just as valuable as more formal types of networking and is also a great way to practice.
Formal
Formal networking can take many forms.
- Networking Events: Designated networking events can be held on or off campus and can be hosted by an employer, a BU department or student group, or a professional association.
- Recruiting Events: Career fairs, information sessions, site visits–these are all good opportunities to network with recruiters and others.
- Mentoring: Connecting with mentors, whether through an organized program or by finding alumni on BU Connects, can be a very helpful in building your professional network.
- Requested Conversation: If there’s a specific position you are interested in, you can request a meeting with someone who will know more about it. This might be with the hiring manager, someone who is on the same team, or someone at the organization. Find alumni to contact on BU Connects and LinkedIn.
Informational
Also known as informational interviewing, this type of networking is focused on gaining information about a field or industry, an organization, or a career path. It is not a time to ask for an internship or job.
Use BU Connects and LinkedIn to find BU alumni and others to contact.
Platforms
BU Connects
BU Connects is a platform exclusively for Boston University alumni, students, faculty, and staff that brings Terriers together for personal and professional networking on a global scale. Using the built-in functionality to help facilitate networking and mentoring, you can easily connect with alumni and other for informational interviews and more.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network platform with millions of users around the world. You can connect to people you know and view their connections, greatly increasing potential networking contacts and leads for internships and jobs. It’s also a great way to stay connected to those you meet in internships and other experiences.
There are a few basic components to creating and using a LinkedIn profile:
- Photo: Choose a photo that aligns with your purpose and represents who you are
- Headline: Include keywords to help recruiters and contacts understand your career path and/or goals
- Topical Sections: Add your education, experiences, organizations, and skills. If you’d like add courses and projects too!
- Connections: Begin connecting with people you know, including classmates, colleagues, co-worker, faculty, supervisors, alumni, and others
- Groups: Join LinkedIn groups to take part in online discussions, expand your network, and hear about career opportunities
- Follow: Follow industry leaders and influencers as well as companies of interest. Engage with them and their content.
LinkedIn also has helpful information, including the LinkedIn Profile Checklist (pdf). Once you’ve created your profile, use LinkedIn Alumni Tool to find and connect with BU alumni. Filter by location, organization, industry, academic area, and more.
As a BU student, you have access to a free LinkedIn course from The LinkedIn Guys. Simply visit the course website and click the “Enroll Free” button to learn how to optimize your profile, search for connections and jobs, network effectively, and land your next career opportunity!
Previous Universities
If you attended another institution before (or after) BU, you might be eligible to join their institution-specific networking community.
Preparation
Preparing for any formal or informational networking has four main components.
Research the Organization and the Person
Make a good impression by understanding the basics of the organization as well as the person you are talking to. This will both help ensure a good conversation but will also enable you to dedicate more time to questions on information that’s not easily accessible.
For the organization, this includes things like what it does, how long it has been operating, any major recent news or announcements. You don’t have to be an expert on everything about the organization, but be knowledgeable enough to have an informed conversation.
For the person, this means understanding their general career path if you can as you might find on LinkedIn or other public sites. This could include how long they have been in the field and/or with the organization, their education (college major, any graduate degrees), and the like.
Prepare Your Introduction (Elevator Pitch)
Called an elevator pitch as a reference to how long you might have to introduce yourself in an elevator ride (15-30 seconds), this is really just a professional introduction. The purpose is to quickly summaries your relevant interests and experiences and to prompt a more in-depth conversation. In addition to networking, you might use a version of this in interviews or other professional contexts.
See the samples below for an elevator pitch template we recommend for networking contexts.
Prepare Questions To Ask
Depending on who you are speaking with and what you are hoping to learn, your list of questions may vary significantly. Remember, your goal is to learn about the field, the organization, specific roles, and the person’s experience and perspective. Do not ask directly if there are available or open positions.
- How did you get into this work? How did you get started at this job?
- What do you do in a typical day? What are your major responsibilities?
- What do you like most about this work? Least?
- What advice would you give to someone searching for an entry-level job (or: a job like yours) in this field?
- What would you suggest as the best way to prepare for entering this field?
- In your estimation, how difficult is it to obtain an entry-level job in this field?
- What is the entry-level salary range?
- Can you describe a typical career path from entry level to top management?
- Can you recommend anyone else that I can speak with?
With every conversation, however, do ask who else you might speak with. This will help expand your network within the organization or field and make it more likely that you might hear about open positions as your network contacts learn of them in the future.
Polish Your Personal Brand: Resume/CV, Networking Platform Profiles, Social Media
Your personal brand is anything and everything that represents you to others. In addition to how you communicate and present yourself, your personal brand also includes your resume/CV, cover letters, portfolio, social media accounts, and profiles on networking and other platforms.
In preparing for networking conversations, you prepare a networking introduction and ensure that what you are wearing looks professional. Likewise, updating other expressions of your personal brand is important to ensure a positive impression. For example, in addition to updating your resume also remember to update your profiles on LinkedIn, BU Connects, and Handshake to reflect an updated experience list or academic concentration.
Follow Up
Professional follow up is a key part in turning a single conversation into an ongoing professional networking relationship.
- Be Timely: Follow up with a thank-you note within 24 hours, by email.
- Include Specifics: Refer to something valuable or interesting you learned in the meeting.
- Build Connection: This is a great opportunity to ask to connect on LinkedIn if you haven’t already.
- Report on Recommended Action: If you connect with one of their contacts or do something they recommended, let them know!
Samples
Elevator Pitch
Hello, my name is ____________. I am a ________________ with interest/experience in _____________________. I have _______________ [had internships in, completed projects on, worked for ________________]. My strengths include ____________________. Do you know anyone I can speak with about opportunities in _________________?
Outreach
Outreach Email with a Personal Referral
Here is something you might send to someone who you were referred to by a classmate:
Dear Ms. Smith,
My name is __________, and I am a sophomore at BU majoring in sociology. Susan Wilson suggested that I get in touch with you. I’m considering a career in urban planning and would be interested in any information and advice you could share with me.
Might you have time to meet with me? I am available during the following times:
– Monday, July 12 at 10am, 1:30pm, 4pm
– Tuesday, July 13 at 9:30am, 2pm
– Wednesday, July 14 at 12pm, 3:30pm, 4pm
– Thursday, July 15 at 9:30am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm
– Friday, July 16 at 11am, 11:30am
If other times work best for you, please let me know.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Your Name
Outreach Email without a Personal Referral
Here is something you might send if you don’t have a personal referral:
Dear Mr. Jones,
My name is __________, and I am a student at BU. I’m very interested in a career in advertising and have started some research in this area. I’ve read your blog, and I understand you’ve been in this field for some time. I would be interested in your perspective about careers in advertising. If it is convenient for you, could we arrange an appointment to talk briefly?
I am available during the following times:
– Monday, July 12 at 10am, 1:30pm, 4pm
– Tuesday, July 13 at 9:30am, 2pm
– Wednesday, July 14 at 12pm, 3:30pm, 4pm
– Thursday, July 15 at 9:30am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm
– Friday, July 16 at 11am, 11:30am
If other times work best for you, please let me know.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Your Name
Outreach Message to BU Alumni
Hi [Name],
My name is [Your Name] and I’m a BU alum who’s interested in [Mention Career Goal]. I found your information while I was looking for BU alumni who work in/at [insert industry or company]. Your experience really stood out to me, and I was excited to see that we both went to BU.
I’d love to learn more about your experience at [Company/Industry]. If you have a few minutes to chat or connect via email or Zoom, I’d be really grateful!
Best,
[Your Name]
Follow Up
Follow-Up Email
After an informational interview or other networking conversation, you might send a follow-up email like this:
Dear John,
Thank you for talking to me about your job in data science. I am excited to learn that it is a growing field and will make sure to take relevant courses at BU. I sent your colleague, Jade Doe, an email yesterday, and we have a meeting scheduled for Thursday to connect. I’ll update you on our discussion. I hope we can connect on LinkedIn, I just sent you an invite.
Looking forward to staying in touch. Have a great day!
Regards,
Your Name
Next Steps
* Source: CNBCC, “How to get a job often comes down to one elite personal asset, and many people still don’t realize it” (December 2019)