Networking Guide Color

7/21/2019 Networking Guide Color

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CaPS B

Career Planning ServiceService de planication de carrire

THE

GUIDE TONETWORKING

CaPS B

www.mcgill.ca/caps


2/16Networking Guide

IntroductionDepending on the sector, at least 75%, and as high as 95% o all available jobs are never publicly vertised. Tese jobs are located in what is called the hidden job market and are primarily accessethrough networking.

Tis guide explains the importance o networking and how to effectively integrate networking techniques into your job search in order to access this hidden job market. It is divided into three steps

Understand the Hidden Job Market1.Get Com ortable with Networking: Concrete Steps to Expand Your Network 2.Find Job Opportunities Trough In ormation Interviews3.

It also includes additional in ormation and tips on:

Cold Calling and elephone Etiquette1.Preparing Your Networking ools2.

Step 1: Understand the Hidden Job MarketScenario: Imagine that you have recently moved to a new city/neighbourhood and you are indesperate need o a haircut. Or maybe you are just unhappy with your current hairdresser and arelooking or a change. How would you go about nding a good salon and stylist?

You could reach or the nearest Yellow Pages and scan the ads, or maybe you could stop in at a ethe salons in your neighbourhood. But most o us will likely turn rst to riends, amily, coworkand acquaintances to ask i they can recommend anyone good. Despite, or maybe because o , theproli eration o advertising, there is something very reassuring about a personal recommendationor re erral. And it does not even seem to matter i the person giving the in ormation is not a very

close riend. I your best riends aunts neighbour just got a great haircut, you will likely happilyup that same salon when you need a comparable service, even i you have never actually met theneighbour in question.

Tis same scenario plays itsel out over and over again in other areas o daily li e: when you are wdering where to go or dinner or what movie to watch this weekend, or when you need the serviceo a dentist, nancial planner, plumber, counsellor, or piano teacher. But or some reason, whenlooking or a job, we ofen orget this principle and instead o reaching out to our network we hoourselves up at our computers, endlessly (and ofen ruitlessly) searching the online job listings anclassied ads - a strategy which pays off or only a very small percentage o job seekers.

H For most employers, publicly advertising a job is a strategy o last resort, used only when other,more in ormal methods o hiring, have ailed to pay off. Put yoursel in the shoes o a typical eployer and imagine you are the manager o a small communications company. One o your teamo our technical writers has just told you they are moving to oronto next month. As manager this not positive news: you are a busy person and you do not have a lot o time and energy to spendnding someone new, but you also cannot afford to leave the position unlled. What then would bthe cheapest, most efficient, painless and ultimately most success ul way or you to ll this vacanposition?

Te CaPS ResourceCentre contains manydirectories and guidesto help you access thehidden job market andresearch potential em-ployers, including TeCanadian Hidden Job Market Directory.



You could post an ad online, but this will cost you valuable time and money and you will have toxpend a great deal o energy writing and gaining consensus on the job description and then sifinghrough hundreds o C.V.s, many rom blatantly unqualied applicants. Conversely, it will cost younly a ew seconds to send an email to your team asking them to spread the word and recommendny prospective candidates they know o . Te other members o your technical writing team areer ectly positioned to do this as they know what the job requires and they almost certainly knowther technical writers rom previous jobs or school or pro essional development events. Members

your team will also be sure to recommend people they think would t in with the company. Inhe meantime you will also mention the open position to riends, amily, acquaintances, and othersn your network. Additionally, you may take a brie look at the pile o C.V.s you have received romob seekers over the past ew months, people who have sought out the company proactively, and

maybe give a ew o them a call. You will likely only post the position publicly several weeks or evenmonths later i you have been unable to nd someone suitable through your network.

o, i the above scenario is indicative o how the majority o employers pre er to operate, what doeshis mean or you as a job seeker? Read on to nd out...

Step 2: Get Comfortable with NetworkingNetworking is about people helping people; about actively creating and maintaining mutually ben-cial relationships with others, particularly those in your elds o interest. As a general rule, thearger your network, the more effective your job search is likely to be. By expanding your networkou increase your chances o hearing about job openings like the technical writing position de-cribed above be ore the manager decides to use a more ormal, public method o recruitment.

C C B E N

Sheer error! I am much too shy/introverted to do this!I you are not a naturally extroverted person, the concept o networking can seem massivelyintimidating. It helps to remember that networking is not primarily about you, it is about theother person. Skills like listening attentively, asking good questions and showing an interest inothers are key. And i the idea o making cold calls day afer day or attending sel -proclaimednetworking events ranks among your worst nightmares, there is no rule that says you have tonetwork this way. Focus on creating and ostering relationships in ways that work or you, bethat community involvement, re errals rom riends, or talking with pro essors.

I dont like schmoozing/using people networking seems rude/aggressive to me.Done poorly and with the wrong attitude, networking can indeed come across as aggressive andinconsiderate. Good networking, however, is about seeking out mutually benecial relationships- its a two-way street. Never assume that you can use someone and then just move on: repu-tations spread quickly within organizations and elds and you want to build a reputation as agiver not a taker. Show respect or your contacts time by doing your homework prior to anymeeting. Do not try and push someone to do more or you than they are willing and make sureto show your appreciation by ollowing up with a simple thank you note or email.

I dont like asking for help or imposing on people wont that seem desperate?!Te idea o the truly independent individual, the sel -made man/woman is ofen held up as anideal in North America culture, but whether this exists in reality is doubt ul. People inuenceand help us out in our lives and careers in a myriad o different ways. When you are just startingout in your career there is no way that you could have all o the answers and in ormation that

Attitude is everythinghere. Neediness, selsness and desperationrepel others; kindnessgenerosity and genuininterest in people attra

For networking tipsor introverts, consult

the ollowing articleat: http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/publications/scoop/grads/2008-200articles/#art2.


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you need to make ully in ormed choices. Rest assured that anyone you talk to will have recehelp rom someone somewhere along their career path and they will likely be quite pleased togive back a little. By asking or help you are giving others the opportunity to give and share thknowledge, wisdom and passion or their eld. It can be a genuine pleasure to talk about yourcareer path and interests with an eager listener.

If I get a position through networking, will I be qualied enough to do well in the position?Only in the rarest o cases does networking get you the job in and o itsel that is your respsibility. In an interview or when you meet with someone rom an organization, you will stillhave to earn the job yoursel and be judged on your own merit. Even i you come highly recomended by a dear riend o the Human Resources Manager, you are going to have to prove thyou have the skills, background and attitude to t in with the company and do the job well. Teadvantage o networking is that it opens up many more opportunities to do just that.

Getting a job through networking is somehow not as valid as getting it myself.Networking is sometimes viewed as taking the easy way out. Remember that it is hard work tonetwork well. Building and maintaining meaning ul relationships takes time and energy andinvestment on your part and requires much more o a proactive approach to the job search thasimply scanning online postings day afer day.

I dont know anyone in my eld or know very few people.Perhaps counter-intuitively, research indicates that more ofen than not, it is not your amily orclose riends who provide you with job leads, but rather acquaintances and more distant re erals. Te power o riends o riends o riends lies in the act that these people likely moquite different circles rom you. Tey tend to know different people and have more range thanthose closer to you. I your primary contact list does not yield anyone in the eld(s) you areinterested in, ask them or re errals to secondary (and then tertiary) contacts. Also ocus moon becoming active in your eld through pro essional associations and volunteering.

Tis will take so much time, and I need a job NOW!

Tis could be a problem because building and maintaining meaning ul relationships takes timeand commitment and you never know when a meeting or a contact may lead to a potential jobopportunity. Networking is thus a career-long, li e-long skill. Ideally you will employ a combtion o strategies in your search, including networking, researching and approaching employedirectly and using job listings. Any one o these strategies could be the one that ultimately leato a job, but in terms o priorities, networking should take precedence over the others as sta-tistics consistently show that the majority o job seekers hear about employment opportunitie

rom amily, riends and acquaintances. Networking is simply the most effective way to searor a job.

I am terrible at selling myself and thats what networking is all about right?

Te metaphor o the job search as a sales campaign is a highly pervasive one, but also very prolematic or many job seekers who struggle to sell themselves to potential employers. Howeas Cathy Keates points out in her book Not or Sale! Why We Need a New Job Search Minds(2009), the process o nding work isnt about selling and buying, but it is about people anorganizations connecting and nding a t. Employers do not necessarily require job seekers tsell themselves, but they do desire clarity rom an applicant. As a job seeker, it is imperative tyou are able to clearly communicate your skills, the t between you and the organization andwhat you would contribute i hired. Networking is all about communication, orging connec-tions and building relationships - NO about selling.

As a job seeker it is natu-ral to eel somewhat vul-nerable and powerlessat times consciouslyremind yoursel thatyou have a lot to offer

others, be it your time,enthusiasm, knowledge,contacts, advice, skills ora listening ear.

Remember that goodnetworking is NO onlyabout you. It is about the

relationships you buildand what you can do orothers.

Instead o ocusing onwhat you need rom aninteraction, relax andstart really listening to

the other person. Findout what makes themtick, where their pas-sions lie. Pay attentionto what their needs areand gure out how youmight be able to helpthem. Give rst, and giveofen, the rest will tendto take care o itsel .



C S E N

Create a list of primary contacts.. Start with the people you already know, rom amily andclose riends, to ormer coworkers, classmates, pro essors and community acquaintances. Makea list o all these primary or warm contacts, regardless o whether or not you think they maybe knowledgeable about your eld o interest. I it has been a while since you spoke, get backin contact with these people, nd out how they are, let them know what you have been doinglately, and ask i they know o anyone working in your target area who you could talk to. I they

give you names, the people they re er you to are known as your secondary contacts. I you haverecently nished your degree, many people will ask you: What are you going to do now thatyou have graduated? ake the opportunity to have a conversation with them about the areasyou are interested in and the questions you still have about your career path.

Meet your secondary contacts.. Actively seek out new relationships within your chosen eld(s).Start by getting in touch with the secondary contacts re erred to you by amily and riends. Beprepared to talk about your career goals, skills and experiences. You may want to ask your sec-ondary contacts whether they would be willing to have an in ormation interview (see #5) withyou.

Create new contacts.. You can also create your own contacts by joining pro essional associationsand organizations (many have discounted rates or students/new grads), attending career-relat-ed con erences and events and by volunteering or doing an internship in your area o interest.Making cold calls (see below) is another good way o expanding your contact base.

Make cold calls to target organizations.. Calling companies and organizations o interest andattempting to meet with the person who has the decision-making power to hire you, or withsomeone who is knowledgeable about the eld, is a great way to expand your network. I you areextremely uncom ortable making cold calls, you can also write to the organization or company.However, networking by email is ofen much less effective than networking in person or overthe phone. Additional tips on cold calling can be ound later in this guide.

Arrange information interviews.. In ormation interviewing involves meeting someone cur-rently working in a eld, or an organization, or in an occupation o interest, in order to increaseyour knowledge o your target career. It also helps grow your contact base in the eld. You canhave an in ormation interview with a primary contact, secondary contact or someone you metthrough a cold call. More in ormation about this simple, and extremely effective tool, can be

ound later in this guide.

Follow up!. Te importance o nourishing and maintaining relationships cannot be overstated,as many people neglect this step. It can be very awkward or difficult to get back into contactwith someone you have not talked to in years and ask a avour o them when you have done

nothing to maintain the relationship in the meantime. Keep in touch regularly and ollow upwith those who have been help ul to you. Let people know i you ollowed their advice, metwith someone they re erred you to, or ound a resource they recommended use ul. Keep themin ormed o your progress in your job hunt, share your successes and remember to give backwhen you can.

Be proactive in seekinout in ormation whichwould be help ul in y job search and wouldincrease your knowledabout your eld. Temore people who knowabout you and the kindo positions you woulbe interested in, the beter your chances.



Step 3: Find Job Opportunities ThroughInformation InterviewsResearching and reading about your eld is a great way to start your job search, but at some pointyou will likely nd it use ul to get in ormation and advice directly rom someone with concreteexperience in the area. In ormation interviews can help you ne tune your career objective(s), todiscover additional possibilities or areas o interest, and to develop contacts and potential mentorsin your eld.

An in ormation interview is a meeting between two people: someone (you) who wishes to learnmore about a particular career and someone who works in that eld. An in ormation interview isNO primarily about getting a job rom your interviewee; it is about getting to know people in,and increasing your knowledge o , the career you are researching and targeting. You can interviewanyone who knows about the work you would like to do, ideally someone employed in your eld interest or in an organization or sector where you would like to work.

W S I C I I

Interview people whose perspectives will help you make decisions about the career path you wishtake. Tere are several ways to go about nding interviewees, including:

Approaching primary and secondary contacts: Start by connecting with those peoplealready in your network. Tese include your amily, riends, peers, pro essors, co-workerprevious employers, alumni and anyone else you can think o . You might nd potentialinterviewees among your primary contacts; but what is more likely is that your extendednetwork will know o a potential interviewee (i.e. secondary contact).

Approaching organizations of interest (cold calling): Choose a relevant company/orgazation and contact a person in a position that interests you. Sometimes you can nd name

easily on the companys website. However, i that does not work, call the main line o thorganization and ask or the name and extension number o the head o the department ywould like to target.

Approaching new contacts: Tese could include speakers rom on-campus career panelsand events, those you meet at career airs, or even inspiring individuals you read about inthe news and would like to talk to.

B W W W M

It is important to remember that an in ormation interview is about in ormation and advice. It is no

about calling someone up and asking them or a job. Tis approach is both more intriguing and lessintimidating or both the interviewer and the interviewee. Many people and organizations respond very positively to the initiative and courage it takes to ask or an in ormation interview. It is a compliment to be asked or your advice and opinions by someone who respects what you do, and i yenjoy your career, it is actually quite pleasant to talk about it to an eager listener. Many people alsoenjoy the opportunity to help out a student or recent graduate, to do some in ormal mentoring andgive back a little. Yes, some o the people you ask may say no, ofen or reasons (such as an overl

ull schedule) that have nothing to do with you. But you have nothing to lose. I even one personsays yes, you will be arther ahead than where you are now.

Remember that mostpeople are willing tohelp and enjoy talkingabout themselves andtheir work.



Q A I I

Te key to a success ul in ormation interview is your enthusiasm, preparation and ability tocommunicate clearly. Be ore you go to an interview, think about the type o in ormation thatwould be help ul to you. Revisit your sel -assessment exercises and come up with some ques-tions that will help you determine i this type o career is a good t with your interests and yourpersonal and pro essional values.

Te ollowing questions are meant to help you get started at an in ormation interview. Otherswill naturally ow rom your conversation once you get going. Focus on the areas and concernso most relevance to you and respect anything your interviewee does not want or is not able totalk about. Always remember to thank them or their time and ask i there is anyone else theywould recommend you speak with.

Questions about their career path/training:

How did you get into this eld?What has your career path been like to date? Is it representative o most people in thiskind o position?

What kind o education/training do you have?Are you a member o any pro essional orders or associations? Which ones do you eelare the most important to belong to?What are the uture prospects in this eld? What trends do you see developing over thenext ew years?I you could do things all over again, would you choose the same path or yoursel ?

Questions about their current position and responsibilities:

What does a typical day/week in your job look like?What do you enjoy the most about your job? Te least?

What skills have you ound essential or success in this occupation?Could you tell me about one o the main challenges you ace in this position?

Questions about working conditions:

How many hours do you work in a typical week?How much autonomy do you have in terms o what you ocus on at work?What kind o supervision did you have when you were starting out? Now?How is your per ormance evaluated?What kind o pro essional development opportunities are available?

Additional questions:

What advice would you have liked to have heard when you were starting out?How would you recommend I try out this line o work (i.e. through a summer job,internship, volunteering)?What other elds or jobs would you suggest I research be ore making a nal decision?Is there anyone you would recommend I talk to next? When I call them, may I mentionthat you re erred me?



F U

You may want to take some notes during the in ormation interview, but do so sparingly, so as not interrupt the ow o conversation. Ten, afer the interview, expand your notes and write down allo the main points and pertinent details covered. You might also want to note down your impres-sions o the organization the general vibe, dress norms, etc.

Send a thank-you note or email within 24 hours o the interview. Tis does not have to be long, bu

should express your appreciation and reect the content o the meeting.

Nurture and maintain your relationships with the people you have interviewed. Keep them in-ormed o your progress and any action you have taken based on their advice. I they re erred y

someone who was also help ul or recommended a book, website or pro essional organization whyou subsequently ollowed up on, let them know that. Once you make a decision about your careepath or land the position you were hoping or, in orm them o this as well and thank them or throle in your journey. And remember, good relationship building is reciprocal: i you read an inter-esting article they might enjoy, orward it on; i you hear about a success they have achieved or aaward they have received, send a congratulatory note.

S : Y E

Re: In ormation Interview Last Week

Dear Mrs. Newman,

Tank you so much or agreeing to have an in ormation interview with me last week. I reallyappreciated you taking the time out o your busy schedule to tell me about your ascinatingand varied career path and to bring me up to speed on the latest developments in the eld oSpeech-Pathology.

I learned a great deal rom our discussion, and it has lef me more excited than ever aboutentering the pro ession. I also greatly appreciated your re erral to your colleague in privatepractice, Mr. Johnson. I spoke with him yesterday and we will sit down or an in ormationinterview later this week.

I will be sure to keep in touch and let you know how my career plans develop. Tank youagain or your time, your enthusiasm and your suggestions.

Sincerely,

Linda Green

Ask or your intervie-wees business card soyou can ollow up withthem in the uture.



Appendix 1: Cold Calling and TelephoneEtiquetteCold calling re ers to making direct contact with potential employers who do not know you. Used inonjunction with in ormation interviewing, it can be an excellent way to make inroads at a particu-ar organization or industry.

Cold calling can be used to gather in ormation about jobs and organizations, schedule in ormationnterviews and develop a network o contacts. Using the telephone success ully in your job searchequires gumption, planning and practice.

D P B

You may encounter barriers or difficulties when trying to get through to the person you wish toeach. Te rst person you speak with at a company will most likely be an administrative assistantr receptionist whose job includes screening and ltering calls and answering general in ormationuestions. Tese people are not your enemies; they can be important acilitators and sources on ormation about the person you are calling.

You should be prepared to respond to questions/statements like those below:

What is your call regarding?In responding to this question, be honest and positive. State the type o in ormation you arelooking or and mention i someone has re erred you.

Te person is unavailable.Instead o leaving a message, ask or the best time to call back. ry to avoid being put in thesituation where you are waiting or a call that may never come.

Human Resources will be able to help you. I will transfer you now.

or We are not hiringright now.Te receptionist thinks that you are looking or a job opening. Emphasize that you are call-ing to obtain in ormation, not employment.

Ultimately, the key to getting through to the person with whom you wish to speak, is persistence. Iou are able to reply intelligently, logically and condently to the receptionists screening questions,ou will eventually get through. In order that you come off as polished and pro essional, practice

what you would like to say be ore you try the real thing.

W Y G

Once you success ully get through to the person you wish to reach, you will want to:

Greet the person by name and address them pro essionally (i.e. Mr., Ms., Dr., Pro essor)Identi y yoursel and let them know i you were re erredState why you are calling (otherwise you risk the person getting restless)Identi y where you are in your career and say something that is likely to arouse your lis-teners interest (see Mini Introductions)Get to the point quickly and do not monopolize their time

Remember to thank threceptionist or admin-istrative assistant at th

end o every call, regless o whether or notyou get through.



Keep your objective in mind: obtain a ace-to- ace meeting with your contact, gather inmation, etc.

I you are success ul in arranging an in ormation interview, suggest a specic time to meet, prebly be ore the business day begins, and let them know that the meeting will only take 20-30 minuI the person cannot meet you or whatever reason, do not give up. Ask or other re errals or reqpermission to call again at a later date.

S S /S

Below are a ew sample scripts illustrating scenarios/responses you are likely to encounter whenmaking cold calls. Use them to practice possible responses and generate other ideas o possible scnarios. In general, the more condent you eel and sound and the clearer you are about the purposo your call, the easier it will be or you to get through.

S A

Front Desk: Good morning, Widgets Inc. How can I help you?

You: Hello, I would like to speak to the Director o the Marketing department. Could youtell me his or her name please?

Front Desk: Certainly, its Bob Smith.

You: Tank you. Would you be able to connect my call to his/her office?*

*You could also call back the next day and ask to speak to this individual then.

Bob Smith: Bob Smith speaking.

You: Good morning Mr. Smith. My name is Sally Green and I recently graduated romMcGill. I am looking to pursue a career in marketing and am trying to nd out as muchas possible about the eld be ore making any denite decisions. I have heard very positivethings about you and your work rom my neighbour, Jim Philips, and am very interested innding out more about what you do. Would it be possible to arrange a short appointment totalk about your career path to date?

Bob Smith: Tats an interesting idea. Certainly. How is Monday at 3pm?

S BSecretary: Good morning, Bob Smiths office, how can I help you?

You: Good morning. My name is Sally Green. May I please speak with Mr. Smith?

Secretary: What is your call regarding?

When speaking on thetelephone, remember to:

SmileListen attentively Show enthusiasm

and ask questionsBe positiveBe politeTank the person atthe end o the call



S B ( ) You: I am a recently graduated student rom McGill currently researching the eld o biore-source engineering, and I understand that Mr. Smith might be able to offer me some in or-mation and advice.

Bob Smith: Bob Smith speaking.

You: Good morning Mr. Smith. My name is Sally Green and I recently graduated romMcGills Engineering program. I am looking to pursue a career in bioresource engineeringand am trying to nd out as much as possible about the eld be ore making any denitedecisions. I understand you are the Director o Research and Development and I am inter-ested in speaking with you about the work you do. Would it be possible to arrange a shortappointment to talk about your career path to date?

Bob Smith: Im sorry but we dont actually have any openings right now, but perhaps i yousend me your C.V. I can keep you in mind or uture positions.

You: Im a raid I may not have made mysel clear as I am not actually looking or a positionright now. I am researching career options and would like to nd out more about the eld obioresource engineering in general. I would be interested in speaking with you or about 20minutes i you have some time to discuss your career path and answer a ew questions. Id behappy to come by whenever is convenient or you.

Bob Smith: While Im attered you would like to speak to me, Im a raid this time o year isextremely busy and I wont be able to meet with you at present.

You: I understand and thank you or your time nonetheless. Would it be alright i I calledyou back next month? Or perhaps there is someone else you could recommend I speak to?

S C

Secretary: Bob Smiths office, good morning!

You: Good morning. My name is Sally Green. May I please speak with Mr. Smith?

Secretary: Im sorry but Mr. Smith is not currently available. Would you like to leave a mes-sage?

You: No thank-you, I can call back another time. Could you let me know some generallygood times to reach Mr. Smith?



P G E

Be prepared be ore making a call. Be sure to veri y the name o the person you wish to speak wand ensure that any relevant documents (i.e. C.V., recent correspondence) are organized and close hand.

Practice, practice, practice. Ask a riend to play the role o the potential employer. Practice what would like to say until it sounds and eels natural.

Remember the person you are talking with will pick up on both verbal and non-verbal cues yourtone, attitude and voice projection are all important.

Appendix 2: Preparing Your NetworkingToolsM I

Communication and conversation skills are critical to success ul networking. Employers naturallypre er candidates who know themselves and what they have to offer and who can express this cleand compellingly. As you develop relationships within your target eld you will need to introduceyoursel to many people and be able to make the most o these opportunities.

In such situations a little preparation goes a long way, especially i talking about yoursel and youachievements does not come naturally to you. Start by identi ying your strengths as a potentialemployee: your relevant skills, experiences, achievements, interests and goals. Ten think about theorganization or industry or individual you are targeting and consider which actors directly contribute to a good t between you and them. Tirdly, be clear on what your goals are or the interactionWhat are you hoping to learn?

Finally you want to try to put all o this together into a mini introduction that might take severalpossible orms.

a) Sound Bite : An abbreviated introduction best used when time is short, as a lead-in to a telephoconversation or instance. Mention your name, educational background, and the purpose o makithe contact.

Sample: Sound Bite

Hello. My name is Danielle Ferguson and I am in my nal year in McGills English pro-gram. I am currently researching potential career options afer graduation and the publish-ing sector is an area o particular interest to me. I understand you have held many differentpositions in this eld, I am interested in nding out more about your career path. Would Ibe able to conduct an in ormation interview with you sometime this month?

b) Infomercial : A longer version o a sound bite, more along the lines o a verbal business card.addition to your name and educational background, mention relevant experience and skills, knowledge o the organization and the in ormation or position you are seeking.

Te sample scriptsoutlined here are by nomeans designed to bememorized and blurtedout without pause atany opportunity. Rather,they are designed toget you thinking aboutwhat you want to com-municate in any givensituation - use them as aplace to start and a wayto help structure yourthoughts.



Sample: Infomercial

Continue with: Last summer I completed an editing internship at H & R Publishing in o-ronto where I especially enjoyed collaborating closely with writers. I would like to continueto gain editing experience, but am also interested in nding out more about the marketingside o the publishing business. I know that your company, NewBooks Plus, has recentlyexpanded its marketing operations. Could you tell me more about these developments?

) Commercial : Te longest version describes your background, qualications, skills and achieve-ments in more detail and would be used in situations where you are able to have a more extensiveonversation with someone.

Sample: Commercial

Continue with: Over the course o my degree I have taken numerous business and mar-keting electives along with my core English and literature courses. I have a thorough un-derstanding o Canadian literature and writers and would enjoy collaborating with local

authors to promote their new works. I have several questions regarding the qualicationsand experience necessary to break into the eld, and am very interested to hear what youhave to say about this.

ips:

Your conversation partner will almost certainly have questions and responses to variousaspects o your introduction. Prepare or this by thinking about what you might be askedand considering relevant points you would like to bring up in your answers.You are the ultimate expert on yoursel . No one can be more in ormative than you in de-

scribing your skills, expertise and experience. A passionate, condent introduction is whattends to impress.

B /I C

A business card or in ormation card can be an effective and use ul tool when used to complement aonversation or relationship. Te card makes an appearance afer you meet someone, not as the in-roduction or the entire interaction. Attending a networking event and rapidly distributing as manyards as possible to as many people as possible, without actually pausing long enough to learn a littlebout them, is next to useless. You will come across as abrupt and harried at best.

Give your business card to riends and amily to pass on to secondary contacts and to new contactst the end o a discussion or meeting i they would like to get in touch with you. Bring them to pro-essional events, career airs and panels and carry a ew extra in your wallet just in case.

When you receive or ask or cards rom others, take a moment to jot down any points about themou would like to remember. Make a note o anything you have said you will do (i.e. ollow up, sendour C.V., pass on a re erral).



Your card should contain the ollowing:

Your name and current contact in ormation, primarily phone and email.A pro essional webpage, MySpace or LinkedIn prole i appropriate.Your degree, indicating your major/minor i relevant.Any titles or certications (i.e. Psychologist, Pianist, I specialist).

As with other career tools, keep it clear, pro essional and uncluttered.

Sample: Information Cards

Colleen Templeton Bachelor of Science (Anatomy)

McGill University-2003

Laboratory experience (Molecular biology, Cell biology, Chemistry)Computer literate (Word, Excel, SPSS, Powerpoint)

Bilingual (English & French)

1234 Peel Street Montreal, Quebec H3A 1B3

Tel.: (514) 842-9876E-mail: [email protected]

1333, rue LacombeMontral (Qubec)H3T 1K6

Tlphone : (514) 342-5987Tlavertisseur : (514) 987-3324Courriel : [email protected]

DOMINIQUE GIACOMELIAgronome

Bachelire en sciences de lagriculture (Science des plantes)Membre de lOrdre des agronomes du Qubec

Exprience en services-conseils, gestion et dcontamination des sols, supervision,recherche et dvelopement. Trilingue : Franais, anglais et italien.Possde un permis de conduire et une voiture.

Karen ZeilingBachelor of Arts in EnglishMcGill University - 2004

Experience as an editor and writerEffective oral and written communication skillsSuperior research skillsCritical and analytical thinker

3333 Cte-des-NeigesMontreal, Quebec, H3T 1K3

Tel.: (514) 997-5453E-Mail: [email protected]

You may also wish toinclude the ollowing in-

ormation on your card:

Languages youspeak

Key hard and sof

skillsExperience high-lights



Final Word: Its all about buildingrelationships!Remember that good networking is really about being riendly and interested in others, being anactive and attentive listener and treating people with courtesy, respect and generosity. Smile, makeeye contact, approach each interaction with an open mind and a positive attitude and you neverknow what may happen. Do not be shy to ask or help and be condent that you have a lot to giveand offer in return. Actively seek out new contacts, ollow up with those you meet, put in the effortto maintain and build upon these initial contacts and you will be well on your way to success.

As Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker and author, noted:

You can get everything you want in li e, by helping enough other people to get what they want.


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CaPS Website - www.mcgill.ca/capsOur website is your main portal to the services andinformation offered by CaPS. We also provide links toa variety of other useful career planning websites.

myFuture - caps.myfuture.mcgill.caLog on to myFuture for an extensive listing of jobs andinternships. You can also register for CaPS workshopsand events, browse publications, and view employerproles.

What can I do with my major? - www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job-search/explore/

CaPS has compiled targeted career information for yourmajor to give you some ideas of where to go next.

The Big Guide - http://www.workingoverseas.com/

user/issi/6857Build global career skills: Get access to the worlds bestinternational career guide with 41 Chapters of ExpertAdvice, 50 Quick Guides, 2,200 Proles of InternationalEmployers, & much more.

General Job Listings - www.mcgill.ca/caps/student /job-search/jobs/ This page contains links to many job listing sites to

help you nd career and job opportunities.

Vault Guides - http://www.vault.com/wps/portal/us The popular Vault Guides contain career and employe

proles, industry overviews, advice articles, an internship database, and much more. McGill VPN

required.

Going Global - http://online.goinglobal.com Going Global provides over 100,000 worldwide job a

internship listings, as well as employer proles.McGill VPN required.

Career Cruising - www.careercrusing.com

This site is an interactive career planning resourcedesigned to help you nd the career that ts you best.Username: mcgillPassword: careers

my

Daily Drop InCome to our drop-ins at CaPS to have your CV reviewedand to ask quick questions about your job search.

Career Resource CentreWe have a comprehensive collection of both online

and print publications which provide information on jobs, careers, graduate schools, and more.

myFutureLog on to myFuture for an extensive listing of jobs andinternships. Register for CaPS events, browse publica-tions and view employer proles.

Ask your career question online and one of our careeradvisors will get back to you, usually within 24 hours.

Ask a Career Advisor

Job Search Workshops

Choose from a wide selection of workshops that canhelp prepare you for your job search, apply to gradschool and more.

McGill Mentor ProgramGet linked to a McGill alumnus/ae who is working inthe industry/job of your dreams.

P.A.C.EJoin other students in this 10 hour/4 week program

that helps you explore your personal goals, values,and interests with suggestions for possible careeroptions.

Peer Educator ProgramHelp other students learn more about CaPS whiledeveloping your own leadership skills. Become a PeeEducator and promote CaPS across our campuses.

Work intensely for two weeks with other students likeyou to learn the best ways to get the job you want.

Job Finding Club

On Campus RecruitmentAttend fairs, information sessions and panel discus-sions to network with your potential future employer.

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Networking Guide Color

Documents

Transcript of Networking Guide Color