GradConnections bi-Weekly for online students

February 23, 2021

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.

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.

Professional and Career Development: Take a path that interests you

A job doesn’t just need to be a way to finance the things that make you happy, but it can also be a rewarding and fulfilling way to spend most of your day. If you need help figuring out a path that interests you, try these assessments that will give you a little more insight into what you’re looking for.

Wellness: Breathe easy

Breathing. It’s something we do so instinctively that we often take it for granted, but there’s a multitude of benefits to taking a few minutes out of your day to check in with your breath. Next time you find yourself with a few moments to spare, check out this UW guided meditation on Spotify.

Upcoming Virtual Events:

All events are listed in Central Standard Time (CST). Register in advance to receive the event link.

Investment and Retirement Planning Session for Graduate Students
Tuesday, March 2 | 1 - 2:30 pm

In this interactive virtual workshop, learn best practices for retirement planning and prioritizing expenses, loans, savings, and investments during and after graduate school. Linda Lepe, CFP & Faculty Associate in the Personal Finance Program (School of Human Ecology) will help students develop a financial strategy to maximize limited resources while pursuing an advanced degree. Students will leave this workshop with personalized financial goals and a plan and resources to accomplish them.

How to Email Like a Professional
Wednesday, March 3 | 2:30 - 4 pm

Want to demonstrate your good “communication skills” to a potential employer? Need to request an extension or letter of recommendation from a professor? In this workshop, we’ll talk about how to compose professionally effective emails. Along the way, we’ll have fun looking at examples of what not to do, and we’ll address your specific questions, scenarios, and concerns.

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