Tips for Grads: Expanding your network from home
Career Development
Not quite sure how to network in a virtual world? While it may feel daunting to try to make connections and apply for jobs online, take note of these strategies to increase your virtual networking confidence and success, from the comfort of your home.
Prepare your introduction. Write out a short introduction that speaks to your career experience and future goals. This preparation will help you more confidently begin conversations with potential connections.
Stay engaged. Don’t just do all of the talking. Ask your connections questions about their background, interests, advice, or thoughts on industry trends and then actively listen and respond to what they have to say.
Join networks and connect online. Social media offers great opportunities to connect with people in your field. Make sure your profiles are consistent and professional, then engage with groups across various platforms.
LinkedIn and Badger Bridge are great resources to use to find UW alumni in fields that interest you, so make sure you have an updated profile on both sites. Want to learn more about the Badger network built by Badgers? Check out this video about Badger Bridge.
Handshake, a career platform designed for university students, is here to help you to connect to 200,000+ employers nationally. You can use it to apply for both jobs and internships, register for career fairs and employer events, and more. Get started with Handshake here.
