Industry Networking and Research.
ANSWER
STEP 1: Identify the Industry and Area
- Industry Research:
- Understand the industry you’re interested in (e.g., marketing, healthcare, technology).
- Identify major players, such as companies, agencies, nonprofits, and media outlets.
- Analyze the current state of the industry, including trends, challenges, and opportunities.
- Company Research:
- Examine the history and background of the companies or organizations within the industry.
- Review their client work and case studies to gain insights into their projects and success stories.
- Study their vision statements to understand their long-term goals and values.
- Why This Industry:
- Clearly articulate why you want to work in this particular industry. What aspects of it appeal to you?
- Social Media Analysis:
- Evaluate the social media presence of professionals and organizations in the industry.
- Conduct a mini social media audit to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Follow their social media accounts on all relevant platforms to stay updated.
- Job Qualifications:
- Research job postings in the industry to identify common qualifications and skills employers seek.
STEP 2: Research Professionals
- Professional Research:
- Identify professionals within the industry whom you’d like to connect with.
- Check for bios on the main websites of relevant companies or organizations to learn about their backgrounds.
- Online Presence Evaluation:
- Analyze how these professionals present themselves on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter.
- Look for consistency in their personal branding and the content they share.
- Commonalities and Connections:
- Identify any shared experiences, interests, or connections you have with these professionals.
- Compile Findings:
- Create a document or spreadsheet to organize your research findings and notes.
STEP 3: Draft Initial Outreach
- Choose the Right Platform:
- Determine the best platform (LinkedIn, email, Twitter, etc.) for reaching out to these professionals.
- Evaluate Your Own Online Presence:
- Assess your digital footprint and personal brand to ensure consistency and authenticity.
- Make necessary updates to present the best impression online.
- Draft Outreach Message:
- Craft a concise and personalized message for each professional.
- Explain why you’re reaching out and express a genuine interest in learning from their experiences.
- Keep the message brief and respectful, avoiding a hard sell.
- Editing and Proofreading:
- Review and edit your outreach messages for grammar, spelling, and clarity.
STEP 4: Reach Out
- Take Action:
- Initiate contact with the professionals by sending your outreach messages.
- Define Objectives:
- Clarify your objectives (e.g., seeking a connection, job shadow opportunity, informational interview).
- Reflect and Learn:
- After each outreach, reflect on what you learned from the experience and what you could do differently.
- Next Steps:
- Discuss potential next steps in your conversations, such as scheduling a meeting or exploring further opportunities.
This structured approach to networking and career exploration can help you build meaningful connections and gain valuable insights into your chosen industry. Remember to be authentic, respectful, and open to learning throughout the process.
QUESTION
Description
STEP 1: Identify the industry and area you want to get into.
- Research the industry and see who are the major players (companies, agencies, nonprofits, media outlets, etc.). What is the current state of this industry?
- Note the history, client work, and vision statement for the particular industry you are looking for. Why do you want to work here? What campaigns and social media activities are professionals in this industry doing that is working for them?
- Evaluate their social media accounts. Conduct a mini social media audit to see what they are doing well, and what they could improve on. Follow their social media accounts on all platforms.
- Research the current jobs outlined. What are some qualifications employers are looking for?
STEP 2: Research professionals.
- Research people you would like to connect with. Look to see if there are bios on the main website of the company, agency, or organization you are looking at. How did these professionals get to where they are today?
- Evaluate how they present themselves on LinkedIn and Twitter. Are they consistent? What are they sharing?
- Are there any connections, similarities, or experiences you share with these professionals?
- Outline the findings you have collected.
STEP 3: Draft initial outreach message and contact.
- Determine which platform would be best for reaching out to these professionals.
- Evaluate your own digital presence. Are you consistent and showing your true and authentic personal brand? How would others perceive your digital footprint? Revise and update if necessary to present the best and true first impression online.
- Draft an initial note (formatted for the platform) to connect with others.
- Discuss why you are connecting with them.
- Keep it short and to the point.
- Don’t go for the hard sell—talk about why you want to learn more about their journey and experience. Ask how they got to where they are today.
- Edit, check for grammar and spelling and edit again.
STEP 4: Reach out.
- Take the initial step to reach out to the professional.
- Determine what your objective is (connection, possible job shadow opportunity, meet for coffee, etc.).
- Evaluate the experience. What did you learn from this activity? What would you do differently? What are some best practices you learned in the process?
- Discuss next steps. What are some next steps you will be taking based on the experience you had here?