This assignment is about taking an inventory of the networks you belong to and making a plan to expand your networks. For those of you early in your academic career, focus on the type of groups you should engage in to learn information which will be value in succeeding in school, and in acquiring relationships which will help your transition to that next internship or job.
Be mindful of the various departments, programs and resources offered by your school. Think about school clubs, alumni associations and industry associations in the field you want to pursue for a career. Some of this will be applied later in during our lesson on using Linked In.
Use the Connection Identifier worksheet located in the “Materials” tab above. Make a list of School groups that are related to your interests. Make a list of companies and positions you would like to work at. Make a list of outside associations you should join to begin making connections in your desired profession.
Later in the semester you will get active in connecting with more of the people who are professionals in your career field.
At this time, you may start making a list of people you know who work at the companies you have identified and start to build or strengthen your relationship with them. All of this can be done within PRSIM by creating various tags for groups, academic majors, associations, skills and companies.
If you find no relationship at a company you have identified, see who is in your network may have a connection. LinkedIn will become a valuable tool for this. You will look to see if you can ask for an introduction to someone in the company. Think of this as a treasure hunt where you have to search to find the gold…and the gold is in the relationships and connections you have with others.
Our lesson on the Art of Making and Asking for an Introduction will be helpful for this process.
Connection Identifier Upper Classmen
Connection Identifier Underclassmen (To Be Added)
