Networking

Everyone you know and everyone you can get to know are potential resources as you explore career options.  Alumni, parents, employers, faculty, staff and students are all rich sources of information and potential opportunities.    Learning how to “network” (i.e. build relationships) with others is crucial to career development, from your first internship to mid-life career changes.  

Career Services offers numerous resources to SU students and alumni for making career connections.

Alumni Contacts:  One of the most important resources for students and alumni is other alumni.  All students and graduates of SU are members of the SU Alumni Association, free of charge.  The Office of Alumni Relations maintains a comprehensive database of alumni contact information.  Students and alumni seeking to make career connections may contact Career Services, who can research the alumni database for appropriate contacts.  An online, password-protected alumni directory that can be accessed directly by alumni and students is also in development. 

Career Mentor Network: Alumni and parents can volunteer to serve as points of contact for students and alumni who are exploring careers.  Career Services provides this information to students and alumni via individual advising appointments, email and phone inquiries and the Major Possibilities brochures (available in Career Services’ Resource Center).  For more information about becoming a career mentor, click here.

Programs: Events such as Etiquette Dinner teach students the basics of mingling and networking.  Students can practice these skills at Career Connections BBQ, where they can visit with alumni and other guests.  Alumni provide advice and serve as networking contacts through a variety of events, including the Careers in... series, Real World 101, Senior Surge and more.  For a calendar of upcoming events click here.

Resources:   For more details, check out the following downloadable handouts:

Networking Basics
Networking Script Templates
Personal Contact Network

You can also learn more about other SU community members who might share your interests via:

Class Notes (Short news items from alumni by class year; alumni can submit notes via site as well)

Who’s Who from SU (Monthly profiles of students, faculty, staff and alumni; includes archives)

And when you’ve identified your networking contact and set up a time to talk with them, learn more about how to interview your contact for information helpful to your career exploration and job search by reading about “Informational Interviewing.”