Students learning to network need to think about all aspect of how they communicate and how they are being perceived.

1. NETWORKING AND
COMMUNICATING LIKE A
PROFESSIONAL

2. WHY DO YOU NEED TO NETWORK?
According to US Labor Department statistics:
85% of search efforts should be focused on developing and
nurturing your network.
15% should be focused on responding to ads or blindly sending out
resumes.
77%
6%
11%
4% 2%
How Jobs are Found
Networking
Search Firms
Classified Ads
Self Employed
http://www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/20121015-softskills/20121015-softskills-5-Networking.htm

3. COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS
You tube link: http://youtu.be/ZcOCJbvUY-w

4. COMMUNICATION AND NETWORKING
Truth - ALL HIRING is based on conversations.
MAKE THIS YOUR
NETWORKING STRATEGY -
Get into good conversations with a variety of people
as often as possible. It is the quickest, most successful way to network.
These are often people to whom you are already connected.

5. NETWORKING AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO
COMMUNICATE
Where do you find people to have conversations?
• Social Media
• Alumni Networks
• Community Networks
• Professional Associations

6. SOCIAL MEDIA
THE GOOD
THE BAD
THE UGLY
91% of hiring managers surveyed said they use social
networking sites to screen prospective employees.
MashableSurvey

7. SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS NETWORKING
THE GOOD
1. It helps you to develop and showcase your
"personal brand."
2. It connects you to the hidden job market - many
opportunities are never posted .
3. It helps you build your professional network
quickly, this is crucial to a job search.
4. It allows you to research industries, companies,
and IMPORTANT PEOPLE.
5. It makes you visible to hiring managers,
recruiters, and other decision makers.

8. HOW DO EMPLOYERS SCREEN APPLICANTS?
(THE POTENTIALLY BAD IF YOU AREN’T USING IT PROPERLY)
Source:LinkedinInfographics

9.  Lock down social media accounts except for the ones you can
use in a professional capacity.
 Untag yourself from questionable photos, offensive comments,
criticisms against current or former employers, political rants,
negative comments.
 Don't post things that can be interpreted as: Sexist, Racist, Lewd,
or otherwise offensive ANYWHERE or ANYTIME!
 Keep private conversations private. Do not use wall posts or
comments to share personal stories, emotions, relationships, etc.
Everything you put online stays out there….somewhere!
Anyone, including prospective employers, can see it.
(The UGLY)

11. TOOLS FOR SUCCESSFUL
NETWORKING &
COMMUNICATION

12. CITADEL ALUMNI DIRECTORY
 Limitations - not all alumni have profiles, some are out of
date.
 Benefits – It has over 16,000 members. It is simply too
large to ignore!
Juniors and Seniors have FREE
access to the CAA online Alumni
Directory. Only current and paid
Alumni Association members can
access and search the database.
Professional and Social Media Tools Critical to Cadets and Recent Graduates, Growing Your Professional
Network with LinkedIn and the Citadel Alumni Directory , By Jack Liles, ‘85

13. LINKEDIN
A LinkedIn profile is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways
to create, grow, and foster your brand.
 Continuously update your profile.
 Follow companies.
 Join professional groups.
 Ask to connect with alumni and professionals within field.
Having a strong online profile is beneficial to students, job
seekers, and all business professionals in our networked
economy.
hireCitadel Career Network

14. 1. Create a simple profile (or
clean up your existing
one).
2. Have minimal graphics
and widgets.
3. Limit the photos you post.
4. Post content relevant to
your job search or career.
5. Choose your Friends
wisely.
1. Put your "elevator pitch" in your bio.
2. Use a professional avatar.
3. Have a custom background giving
details about your qualifications.
4. Have a link to your online resume.
5. Follow industry experts in your
industry on Twitter.
6. Get targeted job tweets sent to your
Twitter feed or mobile phone.
FACEBOOK TWITTER

15. INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
1. NEVER ASK FOR A JOB OR INTERNSHIP. The
contact may not have a job to offer and doesn’t even
know you yet!
2. Have intelligent, conversational questions.
3. Ask for advice developing skills.
4. Potentially ask for a resume review (at the end IF the
opportunity presents itself).
5. Always follow up with a nice email or handwritten note
and STAY IN TOUCH!
The goal of an Informational interview is to develop
meaningful contacts and to truly seek ADVICE and
DIRECTION related to a potential career field.

16. CONDUCTING INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
 Conduct as many of these as
possible in your free time.
 Look for alumni, decision
makers, recruiters, or other
people who may be in the
know.
 Have intelligent, industry
related questions.
 Focus on the industry, the
profession, the person - YOU
COME LAST!
 Ask for ADVICE or
DIRECTION , then take it!
 Always send a nice follow-up
email or thank you. STAY IN
TOUCH!
 DO NOT get frustrated if you do
not get a call back or an email.
Find another contact.
 DO NOT be late!
 DO NOT ask for a job, internship –
Ask for Information!
 DO NOT say anything off color or
unprofessional (even if the person
with whom you are speaking
does).
 DO NOT assume you have their
respect because you are a Citadel
student.
DO DO NOT

17. HOW DO YOU GET THE BALL ROLLING?
If requesting by phone:
"Hello ___,
My name is ____. I am a ___ (Senior, Junior) at The Citadel, majoring in
___. I am very interested in learning more about entering a career in __. To
help me in this regard, The Citadel Career Center is advising I conduct
several short Informational Interviews with someone who can offer advice
and direction . Please let me know if this is something you may be available
for.
Also, if I can be of any assistance to you, please let me know. I appreciate
your help, and I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Kind Regards,
Name
email@citadel.edu
843-953-1616
The Citadel, Class of 2015
Career Planning Guide - Informational Interview p.17

18. EXTRA TIPS AND TOOLS TO MAKE
COMMUNICATION EASIER

19. BUSINESS CARDS
 Networking and business cards go hand in hand.
 A business card doesn’t replace the résumé, but
include your Linkedin profile or other relevant details.
It is often not practical to have a résumé with you
in a networking scenario.

20. THE ELEVATOR PITCH
Part 1 - “My name is Page Tisdale. I’m a junior at The Citadel majoring in
Health and Exercise Science. I’m also a student athlete on the women's
soccer team and have been involved in campus leadership positions and
our service learning program. I'd like to know more about your internship
program in marketing. I hope to pursue a career in Sports Marketing
after college.”
They say something here. If you need more, add on!
Part 2 - Last summer I completed an internship with Level Wing
Marketing and learned about data analytics. I’m hoping to develop some
more creative marketing skills to add to that. I have interest in
healthcare, but have knack for business too. In the future I’m hoping to
combine these two very different disciplines and find myself a career that
includes them both.”
“Tell me about yourself” is a questions
you should be able to communicate
with ease on ALL occasions.

21. DO I GIVE MY NETWORK CONTACT
MY RESUME?
 Offering an unsolicited resume
can be awkward (and
considered unprofessional).
 Don’t be afraid to ask for
feedback on your resume if the
opportunity presents itself.
 Do be prepared to send it
quickly if asked.

22. CLOSE THE LOOP ON NETWORKING  Send a nice follow-
up email (at a
minimum).
However, a hand-
written thank you
really makes an
impact.
 Few gestures have
a greater impact
than a mailed
Thank-You note.
 Find a way to keep
in touch with your
connections, even
if it is just a link to a
neat article every
now and then.
Send a nice follow-up email (at a
minimum) and a hand-written thank
you to really make an impact.

23. NEVER LET YOUR FIRST INTERVIEW BE YOUR
FIRST INTERVIEW!
Know what the STAR technique Develop
5 core stories about yourself:
1. Your skills, ability & education
2. Your strengths
3. A challenge (a “weakness”)
4. Your leadership capacity
5. You ability to problem solve
Rehearse but don’t memorize the stories
and have these in your toolbox. No matter
WHAT you are asked, you can give an
examples.
Communicating your skills in an interview is not as easy as
you think. USE INTERVIEWSTREAM!
Click here for an InterviewStream Sample

24. VOICE MAIL AND PHONE MESSAGES
Incoming Voice Mail:
“Hello, you have reached Page Tisdale. I am sorry I
missed your call. Please leave me your name & number
and I will return your call as soon as possible.
Leaving a Voice Mail:
“Hello, Miss Thompson. This is Page Tisdale. I am a
Junior at The Citadel. I am sorry I missed you, but I would
like to follow up regarding my interview. I am still very
interested in the Training Development position. I can be
reached at 843-953-1616. Again, that number is 843-953-
1616. I will try to call again Monday at 1:00. Also, please
feel free to contact me if you need to. Thank you, have a
great weekend!
SET YOU YOUR VOICEMAIL!

25. USE THE CAREER CENTER AS A RESOURCE!
1. Resume Blitz Fri. 12:30-2:30 MCH.
2. Drop-in 1:00-3:00 Mon.-Thurs., The
Citadel Career Center.
3. Attend The Spring Career Fair FEB
25th 12:30-4:00 Alumni Center.