FLA Networking Playbook

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know”

Research shows that 70-80% of jobs and internships result from networking. This means that only 20-30% come from
remote contact through applications or resume drops.

Networking is an art, not a science. Practicing and finding a style that works for you is what matters. There is no magic
formula to networking effectively, confidently, and comfortably. Going out and networking will help you find your style.
Remember to network with everyone, everywhere!

 What is networking? Networking is simply making personal connections and then leveraging them when you are
in need. Your professional network can help most when you are starting to look for your first job or you’re
looking to lateral to a new job, but the keys to success are providing value to people in your network and
building strong relationships before you ask anyone for help.
 Why network? Example: Would you rather drop your resume to a recruiter on campus to put in a stack of 50+
other resumes, complete an application online along with 500+ other candidates, or put your resume in the
hands of someone who has the power to pull you through to an interview? The latter option is the most effective
and the reason why we network.
 What are ways to network?
o Email
o LinkedIn
o Coffee Chats
o Phone Calls
o Networking Events hosted by companies
 What is the most effective? We highly recommend cold emailing – you can craft a clean and articulated message
that lands directly in a professional’s inbox. LinkedIn can be effective, but also creepy (use it to source
professionals)! Cold calling is uncomfortable for every party involved and can be interpreted the wrong way.
 Who do I network with? Everyone
o Begin your outreach at the most junior levels of a company (analysts / associates)
o Look for alumni to reach out to at Company XYZ
o Once you feel confident in your networking abilities and have plenty of practice speaking to junior
members, you can reach out to more senior members in a company (VPs / Directors)

Emailing

 How do I find the professional’s email address?

o Each company typically has a uniform email format (jane.doe@xyz.com, j.doe@xyz.com)
o Google “Company XYZ email format” – there are resources that provide the email formats
o Websites such as RocketReach have email formats as well
o Use LinkedIn to source professionals, find their names, and craft their email format
 What do I say?
o Proper intro (Hi John)
o Your name followed by grade classification (sophomore / junior)
o A one or two sentence background of yourself (relevant work experience, internships, etc)
o A one sentence explanation of what industry your interested in and why
o A one sentence request to speak to them about their experiences (you can combine the prior bullet
point and this one together if it flows)
o A respectful one sentence summary – Ex. “I know you’re quite busy, but I’d appreciate the opportunity
to speak briefly in the near future”
o Proper closing (Regards, Jane) with contact info below
  Keep it brief – Professionals are busy and don’t want to read an essay. They know why you’re reaching out!
 Main Goal – Get a phone call!
 Follow Up! Send a follow up email within 24 hours thanking them again for taking time to chat, a specific piece
of the conversation you enjoyed and ask if they can connect you with another team member.

Phone Call

 What do I say?
o Ask open ended questions
o What’s your experience at Company XYZ been like?
o What’s the culture like?
o What interested you in industry XYZ / Company XYZ?
o What are your career goals?
o What was the recruiting process like for you?
o End of conversation – Can you connect me with other group members? Thank them for taking time to
speak with you
 What do I NOT say?
o Ask how much they make
o Ask yes / no questions
o Ask questions you can find through a simple internet search
o Ask for a job / internship
o What is (industry XYZ)?
o What do you do?
o Anything too personal
o Buzzwords to show off or sound impressive
o Mention anything about parties / illegal activities
 Let them lead the conversation; don’t forget to ask questions; take notes!

Craft Your “Story”

 Every person you speak to throughout networking wants to get to know you. Being able to speak cleanly and
articulate your background in a compelling way makes a great first impression – the opposite is also true.
 Your story should be between 1 – 3 minutes
 Walk through your story like you would your resume: chronologically
 This is different than your elevator pitch – this is not a statement explaining to someone why you would be a
good analyst at their company and are interested in a position at their firm.
 Chronologically go through why you chose UTD, any jobs or internships and what you learned or enjoyed, and
what you are doing now.
 Employers love hearing that everything you’ve done in the past, and in the present, were an intentional move to
put you on a path to XYZ industry

Other Key Points

 Get Used to Hearing No – professionals are busy, get used to not getting responses from emails. Don’t take it
personal
 Be Professional at All Times – smile, even when you’re on the phone; firm handshakes; don’t cuss; do research
about the industry and company beforehand.
 Make sure you have an updated LinkedIn
 Make sure you have your resume ready to send
 Most finance job and internship recruiting takes place during the fall…don’t miss out!