Keep Your Friends Close and Your Alumni Connections Closer

As the old saying goes, “it’s not always what you know, but who you know”. Especially in these virtual times, it is imperative to focus on expanding your professional network. These connections could be amongst colleagues, family, friends, professors, administrators and other professionals within your target industry. Some of the most profound connections that you can make during these times and beyond are with fellow Hofstra alumni.

In your attempts to remain active on LinkedIn, be sure to check out the Hofstra homepage. Here, you will be able to search through Hofstra graduates that may be working in a field that you aspire to be part of. Connect with those who have experiences that most directly relate your goals in an effort to make a name for yourself within your target industry. These connections will point you in the right direction in terms of companies and professional associations to look into!

You may also come across alumni who have previously graduated with the same major as you and are now working in the professional world. If you are unsure about how to best utilize your degree post-grad, talking to alumni and hearing their experiences is an awesome way for you to gain insight and ideas about where you see your professional self in the years to come.

The Hofstra network is constantly active and forever growing. Alumni, world-wide, are always looking to lend an extra hand to help a fellow Hofstra graduate. Having Hofstra as a common ground provides you with a foot in the door as you start to expand your network. Don’t hesitate to ask for an informational interview or any pro tips to propel you forward as a professional. Remember - once a part of the Pride, always a part of the Pride!

For more information about how to leverage your Hofstra network and request an information interview with an alumni, schedule an appointment with a Career Advisor today!

Best,
Sabrina Iaria
Career Advisor

eNetworking - Expanding Your Online Network

Welcome to the second and final installment of eNetworking! In this post, we will discuss how to professionally and effectively reach out to people on LinkedIn to set up informational interviews.

Now that your digital profile, your brand, it's as sharp as a tack, it is time to start making new connections! You will foster and grow these connections through informational interviews. An informational interview is an opportunity in which a potential job seeker seeks advice on their career, the industry, and the corporate culture of a potential future workplace from a current employee

of a company. At one point or another, everyone has needed help with their career, so people are happy and willing to help those who ask for it by talking about their workplace or career path. The following steps will guide you through the process of making connections and handling these interviews.

STEP 1 - Reaching out
A. Target and research a company you are interested in and scroll through their employee list on LinkedIn. If a position or profile interests you, take a look!
B. Once you've found your employee of interest, click Connect and send InMail.
     a. Always send a message explaining why you’d like to connect and your background.

STEP 2 - Receiving a connection
A. Once the user has accepted your request, respond in a professional and timely manner asking to set up a phone call where you can learn from their experience and insights into the company.
     a. Phone calls are the most convenient way to connect with busy professionals.

STEP 3 - Nailing the informational interview
A. Always confirm your call the day before because people can forget and conflicts do come up.
B. Treat this phone call like an informal interview by following these tips.
     a. Prepare questions ahead of time
     b. Have a pen and pad to take notes
     c. Make sure your phone is charged and you will maintain cellular service
C. Communicating with professionals oftentimes strikes a balance between informal conversation and polite respect. Don’t be afraid to stray from ridged professional topics and conversational structure if you discover you both have something in common. A good rule of thumb is to mirror the demeanor of the person you’re speaking with.

STEP 4 - Follow up
A. Make sure to email them that night thanking them for their time and insight.
     a. Reference things from your conversation to show that you were listening and valued what they           said.
B. If you have already applied for a position at their company, mention it in your email. Companies have internal referral programs that often benefit employees who refer potential hires.
C. Now that this new connection is a part of your network, make sure to keep in touch! Reach out to your network every 3-4 months to keep them updated on your career, personal life, and ever-changing goals. This will help you strengthen your network so that you can support each other for years to come. By following these steps, you can develop a robust online network that will help you throughout your career! You may even have the chance to help others and support someone who is also trying to get their start.

If you have any questions about this article or need help phrasing any of your outreach; please contact Michael Goldin at michael.q.goldin@hofstra.edu.

Michael Goldin
Graduate External Relations Assistant

eNetworking - Effectively Building your Online Profile

Upwards of 70% of all open positions are filled through networking. If you are on the job hunt, tapping into your network of friends, family members, classmates, professors, and coworkers can be the shortest route to employment.  But what do you do when you’ve exhausted all of your resources, or when you don’t know anyone at that dream company?

Technology has revolutionized the way we approach the job hunt, from finding companies, too submitting applications.  It has also changed the way candidates can differentiate themselves and network.  Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn and Handshake can empower people looking for employment by allowing them to build a unique brand and connect with employees that can help them get their foot in the door.  In this two-part post, we’ll help you craft a meaningful digital brand and instruct you on how to professionally connect with new people on LinkedIn.

“Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell” - Seth Godin, Best Selling Author and Blogger

Sculpting your digital brand is as essential to e-networking as your handshake is to starting off an interview right.  Your online profiles, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, all curate a story about yourself.  This story informs your candidacy and influences how employers perceive you. Your story, your brand is meant to sell you. You are the product that your portfolio is trying to sell. When you tell employers this story, make sure it is unique to you. This will help you stand out as a candidate and allow other users to understand who you are, which will make them more inclined to talk to you.

Joining different communities online will allow you to naturally expand your network and develop a well-rounded profile.  Whether it is college alumni associations, sports team fan groups, or industry-specific organizations, becoming a part of groups that interest you will help you meet people online who may be able to share information about your desired industry and build a habit of engagement online.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

Regular, meaningful engagement on your platforms is also an important aspect of building your online profile. This will allow you to spark conversation and engagement, which will help you connect with your network. Your posts can be questions to spark a conversation, relevant articles, and career updates. Whatever content you post, realize that it reflects on the type of candidate you are and the type of contacts you will reach.

Your online brand is like a hyper-relevant resume, it tells your story and must be updated as often as possible. Although this can be exhausting, it will make you stand out from other candidates.  Next time we will discuss how to professionally expand your network with meaningful and relevant connections.

Michael Goldin
External Relations Graduate Assistant