Career networking preparation tips

• Networking is key when jobs are scarce: School, workplace or business, and other receptions and events are excellent opportunities both to speak with people you already know and also to make new contacts. These individuals might help you advance your career.

• Whom to plan to meet: For example, if there’s a professor you don’t know, at a school lecture, you can meet and chat with this individual. If you’re majoring in biophysics and your school is honoring a famous biophysicist at a reception, you can introduce yourself to this VIP. Or, if you’re in the environmental field and attending a U.S. Government-sponsored forum, you can connect with senior Government officials and/or business executives.

• Do research before you speak: Let’s say that your university will honor a famous economist at an upcoming reception. Because you’re majoring in economics and want to pursue an academic career in this discipline, you want to meet and speak with this VIP. But, what do you know about this person? Do some research. Which schools did he attend? Where does he teach? What articles and books has he published? Has he recently been interviewed by the media? Has he received any awards or other recognition?

• Assess his perspective toward you: Based on what you’ve learned about this individual, do you think that he’d be neutral or even positive when meeting and speaking with you? If so, you’d definitely want to introduce yourself.

• Know your purpose in speaking: Why do you want to meet this person? That is to say, what’s your purpose? Do you think that his background or life story, field of expertise, or projects are relevant to you and your future? Do you hope that he might take an interest in you and, in turn, provide you with career guidance and even referrals?

• Prepare opening comment: Given this person’s perspective toward you and your purpose in wanting to meet him, develop what you’d say after you shake hands with him.