Networking is the process of discovering connections between people. These network connections can be as informal as talking to your family and friends, or as formal as attending a career event with prospective employers.
A network interview is a short 15 to 30-minute interview with an organizational influencer to gain useful information about the organization, a career path, resources, or skills. It is not intended for asking or applying to a job. Networking is about building relationships with people who can provide information and advice, and may lead to skill building and future opportunities.
How to Network
- Identify Your Networks: Making a list of people you know will help you to realize you may already have a strong foundation for your network.
- Expand Your List: Identify others you have met inside and outside U-M, and methods for how to meet new people who may have similar interests or expertise.
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Clarify Your Goals: What are you hoping to get out of your networking experience? Understanding your intentions can clarify for you who would be most beneficial to connect with.
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Come Prepared: Develop a 30-second elevator pitch you can use to introduce yourself to people. Repeat it until you're comfortable to use it at a moment’s notice. You may want several versions to use depending on the audience.
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Do Your Homework: Research the role and responsibilities of the individual you are interviewing. Identify the information you would like to find out. Have questions prepared that are thoughtful and relevant to engage the interviewee. A list of questions is useful for avoiding long, uncomfortable pauses.
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Make Contact: An informational interview is a meeting where you ask for information and advice rather than employment. Introduce yourself, ask questions, obtain referrals, and close. Keep the entire conversation at a maximum of 30 minutes (unless the interviewee indicates they would like to keep the conversation going longer).
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Follow Up: Be sure to follow up with an email or letter thanking the person for his/her time. This professional courtesy goes a long way.
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Reflect: Keep networking notes. Keep track of who you speak with and when, and set reminders to follow up if you want to nurture the relationship.
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Repeat: The more you network, the more you learn and the more opportunities you can create. Building genuine relationships through networking is a lifelong practice, so master your techniques and go explore.
Adapted from: Networking and Informational Interviews
Water Cooler Interviews
Conduct “water cooler” type interviews with members of your team, asking them how they feel about the changes. These interviews are meant to provide a glimpse of what team members are feeling and it can provide insight as to what type of support is needed.
- What am I excited about?
- What am I nervous or anxious about?
- What opportunities does this present to us/me?
- What do I have control over?
- How can I make a positive impact?
- What am I worried about?
Variation: Send out a one-two question survey and have staff respond. Ask a transition team member to lead a discussion around the results. Spend half of the meeting time discussing and clarifying responses, spend the second half discussing resources.