Resources:

The Alumni Career Advisory Network (ACAN)
The majority of jobs are found through networking, so you’ll want to spend a large portion of your job search time making contacts. ACAN is a list of Suffolk alumni who have volunteered to meet with you to share career information. The network is available online.  Please contact the Career Services Office for access information.

Getting involved in professional associations in your field is a great way to build your network. Participating in meetings, volunteering on committees and attending conferences will help you develop new contacts in your field. You can find a large number of professional associations at Useful Links and in our local Professional Associations Guide by Major. You can get in touch with the local chapters of any association via it’s internet site or by calling the national office.

These are informal groups of job hunters who meet regularly to trade job search and networking ideas. They can be a great way to get support for your job search and to learn from the experiences of fellow job hunters who are also out there making contacts. To get a list of these groups, see our list of Job Search Networking Groups at the end of Useful Links.

The Networking Interview

Networking and informational interviews can provide valuable information and contacts for your job search. Make the most of your contacts by planning your questions in advance. Think about each contact’s areas of expertise and how they can be helpful to you. Also prepare a one-minute introduction about yourself which summarizes your skills and background. Always follow-up on your meeting by sending a thank you note.

Begin your conversation with a brief statement about your background and what you are looking for. For example: “I’ve been working as a human resources generalist for a software company for the past three years, and had some recruiting and client relations experience before that. I’m now thinking about where I want to go next and am looking for opportunities for advancement outside my company. I know that because of your position, you have a good sense of what’s happening in the industry. I’d like to review some of my ideas with you.”

Networking Questions

Use some of the following questions to help you get the answers you need for your job search.

Tell me about yourself: these questions help you learn about your contact’s career path, current work, and skills requirements.

How did you get into this field?/What special skills did you have coming into this job?

What tasks do you like most/least in your job?

Who do you interact with on a regular basis?

What special skills did you learn on the job?

What will you need to learn to stay or advance in this job/industry?

How would you describe the culture of your employer? How is the culture similar or different to others in your industry?

Where do you see yourself in 3, 5, and 10 years?

What related industries would you consider working in?

What is the compensation for someone in various levels in this industry?

The Industry/Market: these questions help you learn more about the profession, industry trends, and what employers are looking for in candidates.

What are trends affecting this industry?

What employment trends do you see?

Who are the market leaders? Why?

Who are the growing companies?

How would my background be perceived?

Are there freelance opportunities that would enable me to check out the field?

What are the best sources of information about this industry?

What professional associations would you recommend?

Who are other people that you would suggest speaking with?

Personal feedback: Use these questions to get feedback about your background and get ideas of directions to consider in your job search.

Would you be willing to give me some feedback on my resume? What improvements would you suggest in terms of content and format?

Based on my background, what kinds of jobs should I consider? What are some alternatives?

Would you recommend working in an established company or a start up? Why?

What skills are employers seeking?

What questions should I be asking that I am not?