1. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 1 What is networking? Careers Adviser Abi Sharma

2. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 2 What is networking? Where do you ‘network’? How do you do it?!

3. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 3 What is networking? How do you view it? Preconceptions? Concerns? Like it / dislike it?

4. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 4 Benefits Answers Advice Assistance Advocacy Alliance Increasing commitment, time and effort on behalf of contact. Increasing need for a strong relationship.

5. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 5 What is networking? Networking is about making connections

6. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 6 Where do you use networking? With potential employers e.g. fairs / assessment centres Finding out about work experience and job opportunities

7. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 7 The Assessment Centre!!! Dinner / Drinks Aim: to see your Interpersonal skills Interest in the organisation

8. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 8 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.

9. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 9 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?

10. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 10 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?

11. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 11 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?

12. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 12 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!

13. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 13 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.

14. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 14 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

15. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 15 Any questions?

16. Careers Service www.careers.qmul.ac.uk 16 Queen Mary Careers Service WG3 Queens Building – 020 7882 5065 Opening times: Monday-Thursday10.30am-5pm Friday10.30am-4pm Drop-in sessions: Monday-Thursday10.30am-12.30pm 2.00pm-4.30pm Part of www.careers.qmul.ac.uk