Networking can be an intimidating concept. As first-years and sophomores, who should you contact and why? Can you network when you don’t know what you want to do after graduation? Learn about the three keys to networking – purpose, communication, and keeping in touch – from students who were recently in your shoes. Presented at the 2015 Lafayette Leadership Education Student Conference by David Kafafian - Lafayette Class of 2013 and Abigail Williams - Lafayette Class of 2015

1. Write Your Future
David Kafafian ‘13
Abby Williams ‘15
Networking Advice for Student Leaders from Student Leaders

2. February 7, 2015
A VIDEO…YAY!
Nike - Write The Future World Cup Advertisement

3. February 7, 2015
So…What does this
have to do with
Networking?
Shout it out. It’s okay.

4. February 7, 2015
How would you
define networking?
What are the core
skills it requires?
One more time. We’re all friends here.

5. February 7, 2015
Our Favorite Definitions
“The process of developing and activating
your relationships to increase your business,
enhance your knowledge, expand your
sphere of influence, or serve the community.”
– Dr. Ivan Misner, Found of BNI, the world’s largest business
networking organization

6. February 7, 2015
Our Favorite Definitions
“The exchange of information or services
among individuals, groups, or institutions;
specifically, the cultivation of productive
relationships for employment or business”
– Merriam-Webster Dictionary

7. February 7, 2015
Our Favorite Definitions
“Building relationships with mutual benefit
in mind.”
– Linda Lincoln, Lee Hecht Harrison Career Coach
(and David’s mom)

8. February 7, 2015
Our Favorite Definitions
“Networking is about learning and helping
others connect. If you’re successful, those
you help will help you right back – that’s
networking!”
– Michael Goldberg, Founder, Knock-Out Networking, LLC

9. February 7, 2015
What We’ll Cover Today
1. Finding Your Purpose for Networking
2. Effectively Communicating
3. The Importance of Follow-Up
4. Resources to
Leverage NOW
5. Questions

10. February 7, 2015
PURPOSE

11. February 7, 2015
Purpose
We think there are two general reasons
why people (or at least we) network:
1. To seek out specific information
2. It’s a small world
(Did anyone sing this is their head?)

12. February 7, 2015
Quick show of hands:
Who is confident they
know what they want to
do after college?

13. February 7, 2015
One more question:
Should the students who
just raised their hands
be the only ones
networking?
Shout, nod your head, work with us here.

14. February 7, 2015

15. February 7, 2015
Purpose One: Learning
Regardless of whether you think you
know what you want to do or not,
you should be trying to learn.
A. Industry
B. Company or school
C. Specific position

16. February 7, 2015
Building relationships
• Being a first year or
sophomore is to
your benefit here.
Why you ask?
○ “Network before
you need
something.”
• This is not
networking !

17. February 7, 2015
Remember our definition of networking has two
parts

18. February 7, 2015
Helping
• But Abby, we’re 18 and 19, how are we going to
‘help’ anyone?

19. February 7, 2015
Purpose Two: You never know…
• Fun fact: If you’re connected with a couple of
hundred of people on LinkedIn, your network
has more than 2 MILLION people in it.
• Sometimes someone is interesting and you just
want to keep in touch

20. February 7, 2015
So now you might be thinking…
• Okay, I can find a purpose for networking,
but that doesn’t mean I know how I’m
going to do it…
– How do I start?
– What do I say?
– What should I not say?
– What if I say something stupid?
– How do I keep the conversation going?
Are we right or are we right?

21. February 7, 2015
COMMUNICATION

22. February 7, 2015
My Favorite Tips
1. Know you audience
– Formal or Casual; Risk Taker or Risk Averse; Bold or
Conservative

23. February 7, 2015
My Favorite Tips
2. “I was wondering if you could help me…?”
1. Know you audience
– Formal or Casual; Risk Taker or Risk Averse; Bold or
Conservative

24. February 7, 2015
My Favorite Tips
2. “I was wondering if you could help me…?”
3. Use lots of ‘We’ language
– We, as opposed to Me,
subconsciously
encourages collaborative
conversations (and
eventually collaborative
relationships).
1. Know you audience
– Formal or Casual; Risk Taker or Risk Averse; Bold or
Conservative

25. February 7, 2015
And my favorite tip of all…
When in doubt, remember that people like to talk
about themselves.
– Remember when your mother told you, “You were born
with two ears and one mouth for a reason” ?
– So ask questions. It can be as simple as: “That’s
interesting, tell me more!”

26. February 7, 2015
Quiz: What are the two
major types of
professional
communication?

27. February 7, 2015
Email Communications
In no particular order, some key things to remember
when sending professional emails:
• Formal is better…at least to start

28. February 7, 2015
In no particular order, some key things to remember
when sending professional emails:
• Formal is better…at least to start
• Provide contact information for follow up
• Specific subject lines are crucial
Email Communications – cont’d.

29. February 7, 2015
Email Communications – cont’d.
In no particular order, some key things to remember
when sending professional emails:
• Formal is better…at least to start
• Provide contact information for follow up
• Specific subject lines are crucial
• Ask questions….it encourages follow up
• Proofread it
• Be honest. It’s an email. It’s in writing and always will
be.

30. February 7, 2015
You don’t want to be these guys:
In-Person Communication

31. February 7, 2015
You don’t want to be these guys:
In-Person Communication

32. February 7, 2015
What parts of in-person
communication are
most important to
leaving a positive and
memorable impression?
You know the drill!

33. February 7, 2015
In-Person Communication
1. Listen
– “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they
listen with the intent to reply.”
2. Clarity of Voice
3. Eye Contact
– Trix Cereal and Baby Smiles

34. February 7, 2015
FOLLOW-UP

35. February 7, 2015
Follow Up
1. Thank You’s
– In a CareerBuilder survey, 22% of employers reported they
would not bother hiring someone who didn’t send a thank you
note after the interview.

36. February 7, 2015
Follow Up
2. Professional introductions following personal
interactions

37. February 7, 2015
Follow Up
3. Relationship Maintenance
– Keep it simple. Think articles you’ve read, shows you’ve seen,
life events, etc.

38. February 7, 2015
RESOURCES

39. February 7, 2015
You can and will build your network everywhere
you meet people

40. February 7, 2015
LinkedIn

41. February 7, 2015
Key Resources
• Career Services
• Alumni
• Professors
• Friends’ Parents
• LinkedIn

42. February 7, 2015
Keeping in touch
• Reminds you when to get back in touch with your
connections
• Tracks your past interactions
• Monitors social feeds of connections
• Provides templates for follow-up emails and initiating
contact
• Create your FREE My Network account at
www.mynetwork.io.

43. February 7, 2015
If you only remember one
thing about networking
from today, make it this…
See what we did there ;)

44. February 7, 2015
Questions?
Thoughts?
Comments?
Thank You.
Abby Williams ‘15
williaam@lafayette.edu
916-214-2103
David Kafafian ’13
dkafaf391@gmail.com
908-472-7777