Networking

Networking involves making contacts in your profession or sector that can help you build up skills, gain experience and secure the type of job you want.

Identify who you already have in your network

Or you may think you don’t have any contacts to network with. Don’t despair, networking opportunities are more extensive than you might think and you might already have some good contacts.

• Have you made any contacts on a work placement or while temping?
• Do your tutors have any contacts?
• Do you have friends or family with contacts?
• Have you met any contacts at careers fairs?

The University of Brighton Alumni Association might be able to put you in touch with working in the sector/job that interests you.

Making new network contacts

Networking occurs in many settings, both formal and informal. Professional events, careers fairs, conferences, workshops, parties and social networks all offer the opportunity for you to make connections.

Prepare a 'lift pitch'

A lift pitch is '...a short summary used to quickly and simply define a product, service, or organization and its proposed value. The name reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an lift ride; approximately thirty seconds to two minutes.' Aileen Pincus - The Perfect Elevator Speech

Prepare and practice a lift pitch so that you are ready for networking events relating to work opportunities - in a lift pitch you have around sixty seconds to get across:

• your name
• anything that is special and different about you
• in a couple of sentences, what you offer and the benefits
• in a couple of sentences, what you are looking for
• your sign off

See Face-to-face networking and Online networking.