Common scenarios

• You may be back home for the first time in several years and unfamiliar with professionals in the area or your field.
• You may have moved with a partner, roommate or friend and feel isolated or unsure where to begin.
• You may have started a job, realized it was not the right fit and still want to stay in the area while searching for a new opportunity.

Whatever your situation, moving to a new town after graduation can feel isolating, and it may be hard to know where to start. Networking becomes easier when you focus on building genuine relationships instead of simply collecting contacts. At its core, networking is about seeking advice and developing professional connections.

Seven Practical Strategies for Networking Success

1. Find your NC State Alumni community.

See whether your area has a regional alumni network or affinity group. You can find alumni leaders to contact, learn about upcoming events and connect with other alumni nearby.

2. Visit the official NC State Alumni LinkedIn page to connect with alumni.

Search by company, job title or location. Send connection requests to ask for advice and learn more about careers, industries or organizations that interest you.

NC State alumni – please accept connections from other alumni! Networking is a mutually beneficial activity, and you may learn and benefit from the connection.

3. Join professional groups in your career field.

This might include SHRM, AMA, SWE or NASW. There are professional associations in almost every career field. Look for local chapters in your field. Many associations host networking events, workshops, and social gatherings and welcome newcomers. Students and recent graduates may receive discounted membership rates or reduced event fees.

4. Get involved in your community.

Volunteering, sports leagues, book clubs and community classes can introduce you to like-minded people who may have professional connections. Meetup is a platform designed to help people find others with common interests. Through such activities, a wide range of professional connections can grow organically.

5. Set up informational interviews.

It is appropriate to ask people in an occupation or industry you are interested in learning about for 20 or 30 minutes of their time for what is known as an informational interview. 

• Be prepared with several questions on which you would like further information and advice about and listen attentively to their replies.
• Focus on learning and receiving advice rather than asking for a job or referral. You can meet by phone, virtually or in person.
• Try to get two or three names of additional people from each informational interview to help you grow your network and get pertinent information about the occupation, labor market and trends. 

6. Network even if you’re not job searching.

Continue to expand your professional network throughout your career, not only when you are job searching. Always consider your network connections to be a mutually beneficial relationship. Be sure to offer to reciprocate the favor in the future.

7. Send a thank you.

After meeting with someone, be sure to thank them for their time and information. 

Generally, people like to discuss their careers, industry and expertise with others when asked appropriately and given the time. Some day you will be able to do the same for someone else.