1. CAREER SERVICES OFFICE Building U.S. Relationships for Academic & Career Success Career Services Office Harvard University Graduate School of Education

2. Agenda Barriers to making new connections Preparing for conversations Ideas for connecting based your academic goals How to find connections Connections to relationships Continuing conversations based on your career goals What if they don’t get back to me?

3. Barriers to new connections Your barriers –Knowledge attainment –Power distance –Unprepared –Fear of rejection –Limited self-image

4. Being prepared is your best strategy Framing your goals appropriately Starting before you need to go in for an ask Start with your outlook to the long-term relationship Look at all the benefits of a relationship Create your 15 second pitch (remember individualism is a key underlying value in the U.S.)

5. Ideas for connecting Academics –Course projects –Course papers –Speakers –Test a theory –Recommendations for spring semester –Group work –Ask questions that relate to your gaps in experience or knowledge. –Develop projects around your gaps in experience or knowledge to build into your resume.

6. Finding Connections LinkedIn - is based on six degrees of separation and allows you to easily connect to professionals in the field.LinkedIn Crismon Compass - is hosted by the Harvard Alumni Association and reaches across schools.Crismon Compass ZoomInfo - is frequently used by recruiters looking for passive job seekers. ZoomInfo Doostang - was founded in 2005 by Harvard, Stanford and MIT alums. Its focus is on ambitious young professionals recently out of college and graduate school looking for their first or second position. Doostang XING - A Global networking site for professionals. Focuses on the European market and tends to be more international. There is a fee for premium services.XING

7. Contacts to relationships Figure out who they are and what they want –There needs to be common ground established of mutual interest Begin a dialogue on a regular basis –There must be a commitment to regular communication Try to learn more about them as time progresses Pay close attention to signs and follow your instincts There must be occasional face-to-face meetings

8. Continuing the conversation Career –Organization details –Industry details –Typical positions –Resume advice –Interview preparation Being known vs. knowing people –Getting in print –Being published –Speaking in public –Active role in association –Testimonials

9. What happens if you don’t get a response? Contact barriers –Unprepared –Not enough time –Relevance