Career Services Blog


Making the Most of Career Networking Night

Evans School Career Networking Night is February 8, 2010 from 5–8pm in the Walker-Ames Room of Kane Hall.  The event will have three parts:

Speaker Panel from 5–6 p.m., with speakers including:

  • Grace Chien, Girl Scouts, Totem Council, Chief Executive Officer
  • Tom Waldron, Waldron & Co.  
  • Erin Geiger, CARE USA, Senior Director of Development, Strategic Partnerships/Alliance
  • Gabriel Scheer, Revision Labs/Greendrinks 
  • J. Paul Blake, Seattle Public Utilities, Director, Community Relations Development; President, ASPA Evergreen Chapter

Employer and Alumni Introductions from 6–6:20 p.m.: We will ask alumni and employers in the audience to come to the microphone and introduce themselves, including the organization they are with and if they are recruiting.

Networking Event and Career Fair from 6:20–8 p.m.: Approximately 50 alumni and employers will be in attendance at this event; thus far we have 34 organizations registered that may actually be recruiting, and many others will there to network. An updated list can be found on the homepage of EvansJobs. Note: we cannot guarantee that each organization will actually attend, so be flexible!

To be prepared for Career Networking Night, attend one of the following workshops:

Can’t attend one of these workshops? Like anything else, you will get out of this event what you put into it.  Here are some tips to help you prepare:

What can you gain from attending Career Networking Night?  

  • Connect with employers of interest who have (or will have) internship or job opportunities available, explain to them what you can bring to their organization, and hopefully obtain job or internship interviews
  • Learn about different career pathways and organizations
  • Gain job search advice from people in your field
  • Meet at least one or two new people in your field of interest you can follow up with for an informational interview
  • Meet people who will remember you when opportunities arise at their organizations

Before the event*

  • If possible, research the agencies and organizations that may be of interest to you. Please note, we cannot guarantee that each organization that registers will actually attend, and others may arrive without registering, so be flexible and listen to their introductions!
  • Create your "30-second commercial" to introduce yourself and highlight your strengths and skills to an employer and identify specific experiences where you have successfully demonstrated your skills and strengths. 
  • Prepare a professional, concise, and effective resume to hand to any organization or agency in which you are interested. Some of the organizations at the event will be collecting resumes. If you are actively searching for a job or internship, have an updated resume ready to go.
  • Bring printed Evans School business cards (you can download them from the handouts and resources section of EvansJobs).   Use good quality paper for both resumes and business cards.
  • Know why you want to work for a specific organization or in a certain field; if you can't answer that question, the employer is not likely to be interested in you as a potential candidate. 
  • Prepare relevant questions to ask recruiters and alumni.

During the event

  • Wear business attire. We recommend suits with jackets and ties for men and suits with jackets for women. Your first impression is important!
  • First plan to meet people who are best matches for your career interests, then speak with the others for networking purposes (they may know someone you could be connected to).
  • Make eye contact immediately when introducing yourself.
  • Give a firm handshake to get you off to a good start.
  • Try to use the representative's name; look at their card or name tag.
  • Smile, be polite, and show enthusiasm—these are important qualities in any candidate.

Communication is critical

  • Listen carefully to what the representative has to say.
  • Avoid using filler words or phrases such as "you know," "like," "I mean," "you know what I mean," and/or "well." Speaking professionally is an important element of the job search process.
  • Be confident when speaking.
  • Have sufficient copies of your resume and business card available and be prepared to offer one to each of the companies or organizations you are interested in. 
  • Ask for a business card or keep a list with each representative's name and contact information.
  • Keep a notepad and pen with you and take notes after speaking with each employer.

Body language can often speak louder than words

  • Don't fidget or play with your hair; it is distracting and employers will notice. These mannerisms give the impression you are not interested in their organization.
  • Look at the recruiter but don't try to stare him/her down.
  • Maintain eye contact while speaking.
  • Do not chew gum—it's unprofessional. It's smart to keep breath mints handy.

After the event

  • Follow-up with a thank you letter, email, or note to those organizations that interested you to remind them of your interest and availability.
  • If you promised to send an employer additional information about yourself, send it immediately.
  • Explore all of your options. Don't limit your possibilities—be open to new ones.

*adapted from UW Career Center materials.

Published on January 25, 2010