University of Dallas Names New Vice President for Development and University Relations
Ashton Ellis, PhD, comes to the University of Dallas after nearly 10 years in fundraising at Hillsdale College.
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What is networking?
Networking is building relationships with people to exchange information and develop professionally. Your professional network can include your friends, classmates, professors, coworkers, supervisors, and even your family and family friends or neighbors. Don't forget that your career advisors at UD are also in your professional network!
Why network?
When you start looking for opportunities, your professional network can help you find opportunities by telling you where to look or keeping you in mind when they see new opportunities. Your network can even vouch for you when you apply.
Use LinkedIn when you network.
LinkedIn is like social media but for professionals! You can connect with people, find jobs/internships and apply for them, find UD alumni, and more.
Fill out your profile as completely as you can. Ask your career advisor to help you or to provide you with recommendations for improvement.
Headline: State your goals, career interest, highlights, and/or accomplishments.
Photo: Use a professional headshot that shows your face clearly.
Search for jobs or connections by industry, job title, location, school, etc.
Message people! Don’t be shy about reaching out.
Follow up if you haven't heard anything (roughly 2 weeks).
Job Fairs
Research - look into companies of interest and don’t discount those that aren’t in your field.
Elevator pitch - customize your pitch for the job/internships offered in the industry.
Ask questions - ask about things that can’t be found on the website.
Smile! - Maintain eye contact and smile. This will communicate that you are engaged and interested.
How to Write an Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch should encapsulate who you are, what you have to offer and what your goals or interests are. It should be brief - imagine that you’re on a quick elevator ride and only have a few seconds to tell someone what you’re all about.
Example: “Hi, I’m Jessica. I’m a junior English major. I’m interested in editing and publishing. I’m currently interning at the World Affairs Council where I do social media for all of their events. I saw that your company is looking for a marketing intern. Can you tell me a little bit about what kinds of projects your past interns have completed?”
Some Sample Questions:
Always have questions prepared to ask recruiters. Here a few suggestions below:
- What projects are interns/employees currently working on?
- What’s a typical day like for an intern?
- How did you land your current position?
- What do you like best about your job or company?
Have questions prepared for alumni, too. Things like:
- How do you think your UD education helped you with your job?
- Which class do you think was the most helpful for your career?
- How have you leveraged your liberal arts background?
An informational interview is an informal conversation you can have with someone who is working in a field of your interest. Talking with people allows you to learn about different career paths and increase your connections. A lot of jobs and internships are gained through these connections.
How to Prepare
Arrive a few minutes early and dress in formal or business casual attire. If the meeting is virtual or over the phone, identify a quiet location beforehand and ensure that your roommates know to be quiet. If you need a quiet place, reach out to our office if you’d like to reserve a private room on campus.
Send a thank you note:
Within two days, send a thank you email or note highlighting the value of the meeting
and referencing something specific the professional suggested. This keeps the door
open for future exchanges.
Develop a plan to stay in touch:
It is important to stay in touch with these contacts. Follow up every few months,
but this depends on whether or not you have something substantial to say. Substantial
updates can include: an update on your professional life, an interesting article,
or even a season’s greeting. Not everyone will reciprocate, so do not take it personally
if someone does not reply. Also create a database to keep track of contact information;
include: name, date of conversation or follow-up, outcome and any relevant notes.
Beware of Social Media
No one should judge you based on what’s on your Twitter or Instagram; however, people will judge you based on your Twitter and Instagram. To ensure that you put your best foot forward, we’ve compiled a list of social media tips for you to utilize.
Learn more about how to format emails to get the best responses from alumni, recruiters and others!
Include the following:
To: Gaby O’Neill
Subject Line: Summer 2024 Internship
Hello Ms. O’Neill,
My name is Christina Nguyen and I met you at the University of Dallas job fair last Thursday. When we spoke, you mentioned that you would have summer internships posted soon and that I should email you my resume. I am still interested in the marketing internship that you mentioned and am sending you my resume for your consideration. You may give me a call at 972-721-5000.
Thank you,
Christina Nguyen
To: Angela Smith - Financial Analyst at ABC Company
Subject Line: Financial Analytics internship
Hello Angela,
It was great speaking with you at the video interview workshop you hosted at the University of Dallas last week. I decided to apply for the Summer 2024 financial analytics internship you recommended based on my background in data analytics. I attached my resume for review as you requested. Thank you again for your time.
Sincerely,
Gaby
To: Gaby O'Neill
Hello Gaby,
I am a junior English major at UD and I see you graduated from UD with a degree in English. I was hoping that you’d be open to talking briefly over the phone or meeting for a cup of coffee to discuss your professional path after UD? I’m interested in learning more about social media marketing. Any insight you could give me about your career path in marketing for Whole Foods would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for your time,
Jonathan Roach
To: Jonathan Roach
Subject Line: Meet for Coffee?
Hi Mr. Roach,
My name is Christina Nguyen and I met you at the Champagne Breakfast at Groundhog Day a couple weeks ago. When we spoke, you suggested we meet for coffee so we can chat about your career path as an English grad and how you ended up at Fidelity. My schedule is flexible and I can meet Monday through Thursday in the evenings. Please let me know what days and times work best for you.
Thank you,
Christina Nguyen
Why Use LinkedIn
Regardless of your major, LinkedIn is a necessity in today’s world. It helps you establish a professional presence and begin building your professional network. This is incredibly important for getting jobs, internships and even volunteer opportunities while in college and beyond. In basic terms, it is an online resume that allows recruiters and connections to find you based on your skills and experience.
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Profile Photo
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Headline and About Section
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Describe your experience and education
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Skills
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Etiquette for College Students Linkedin is meant for professional relationships and prioritizes decorum and a stricter code of internet behavior compared to most social platforms. Follow these rules when communicating with colleagues, recruiters and employers on LinkedIn. |
Making Connections Find people you know, have a clear connection with, or have a compelling reason they should connect with you. You can send a message along with your request to connect. If you do not know the person with whom you are connecting, you should typically send a message explaining the connection. For example: “Hi Shannon, I am looking to connect with more English majors from UD!” |
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Sending Messages Always personalize your messages and clearly state your intent within the first couple of sentences. For more information you can look at our networking section and even find templates for your use. |
Getting Endorsements It is best to ask for endorsements from people you know and have worked with. You can ask fellow classmates, professors, and previous colleagues and supervisors. |
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How to Succeed on LinkedIn
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Ashton Ellis, PhD, comes to the University of Dallas after nearly 10 years in fundraising at Hillsdale College.
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