November is National Career Development Month and at Starr we are excited to celebrate by hosting a variety of events to help you explore different careers as a Weissman student. Attending an event is a fantastic way to connect with people who share similar interests. We want to encourage you to take advantage of these events and start to build your network.

“For those who reported that their internship resulted in a job offer, 70 percent found the internship through cold networking, while only 40 percent found the internship through warm networking (NACE, 2020)”

Networking can be hard, maybe even scary for some. If networking is what is holding you back, I want to encourage you to think about it as an opportunity to introduce yourself, your interests, and skills. Whether in person or virtual, be sure to show your enthusiasm and personality! It is possible to be eager and excited while keeping a professional demeaner. Networking does not have to be scary; it simply requires practice and a little bit of confidence with putting yourself out there.

Keep networking in the back of your mind as you are attending events online or in person. There are many ways to connect even if you are not face to face! For in-person events do not be afraid to go up to speakers or company representatives and introduce yourself. You never know where a short conversation might lead.

• 1. Introduce yourself by saying your name, what you are studying, and why you are at the event or what about the company made you want to hear more about them.
  2. Ask useful and brief questions about topics not covered or anything else you are curious about. Tip: ask about why they decided to join the organization or what skills they learned as an undergraduate that have helped them succeed in this role.
  3. Ask about what the best way is to stay in touch like connecting on LinkedIn or exchanging emails. Be sure to follow up after the event, reminding them with a re-introduction and moving forward with scheduling an informational interview or a quick call.
  4. When networking online, you can start off by sending a simple message on LinkedIn or email to a provided email address. Ask if the representative would be open to a quick 10-minute chat within the next week, making sure to show that you are interested in the position/company they are in.

A great hack is to see if any Baruch alumni on LinkedIn currently hold positions at the companies (check out Baruch’s LinkedIn Alumni page). Follow the same steps to get in contact and mention you are a current student at Baruch interested in their position/field.

Ready to network? Take some time to look through the events tab on Starr Search/Handshake to stay up to date for any exciting opportunities that may pique your interest.

Until next time,

Mashal Burney, Peer for Career