Networking Advice - Networking through fraternity
Quick question with networking advice. I have networked alot with my schools alumni and everyone seams willing to pass my resume along for recruiting. On the other hand I just started working on networking through my fraternity and had a call with an analyst. At the end of the call I asked if he would be willing to pass my resume along to the recruiters at the end of the summer and he straight up told me, without being disrespectful that he doesn't even know me and I probably should not take this approach when networking. He has a great point, but this is the first time out of 10-15 that has told me this typically they say absolutely stay in touch and I will see what I can do. Is this because he is a fraternity alumni at a different school and not a alumni at my school or should I just talk on the phone with someone and stay connected throughout the summer and then ask them to forward my resume along at the end of the summer after I have talked to them a few more time?
What are your thoughts?
The goal of a networking informational interview is to have the person you are talking to VOLUNTEER to forward your resume along. The last thing you should do is ask them to do it. If they say "If you want, I can pass your resume along and let you know what I hear," you should act like a giddy school girl and pretend like you weren't expecting them to do such a heroic act. I can't blame person for giving you that response. It's all about give and take. Fortunately, most people are super nice and will volunteer to pass your resume along without even meeting you in person. But really you should try to think of ways to be of value to them as well. That way they'll be more than happy to forward your resume. Build a relationship, dude.
As for keeping in touch with that guy, try to find an article that is related to something in your conversation with him, and send him a harmless email asking him about it. That should get the ball rolling and he might think more highly of you once recruiting rolls around.
For next time, stick to the normal info interview questions and don't ask them to do anything for you.
That was actually a very bold request for a first time conversation. In fact, they know what you want so you never really ask that question anyways. Just focus on building relationship and ask intelligent questions--the answer of which you can't google. Once when the recruiting season is near, ask “I hope all is well. With recruiting season approaching, I wanted to follow-up and ask you how I could best position myself for an interview with your firm.”
This makes a lot of sense from what you guys said. I guess I got into a rhythm where most of my contacts in the beginning would just offer to forward my resume along that I figured I would just get straight to the point. looks like I need to take a step back and go from the basics again.
Thanks agains.
Yeah...good rule of thumb is to never directly ask for an interview/position/resume push. The fact that they even took your call means that they know what you're trying to do. Just try to keep the conversation positive and make yourself seem like the kinda guy they wouldn't mind talking to again.
Intrafraternity networking, but different schools? (Originally Posted: 09/24/2013)
Anyone have any experience with networking through the same fraternity, but at a different school? Has anyone ever build superb connections or levered a job through this?
For example if I join fraternity ASDF at Brown, how easy is it to lever this connection towards an alumni of fraternity ASDF at Penn?
The reason I ask is that I have the option to rush AKPsi, a business fraternity that is very new and weak at my campus but has a strong national presence, or rush a fraternity that is old with lots of alumni from my campus' chapter.
LOL @ joining a business fraternity...go rush a social house. It'll be better in every aspect.
Joining a fraternity gives you access to the ENTIRE alumni network - not just those from your particular chapter.
Also, if you're joining a particular house just because they have X alumni you're gonna regret your decision and probably get your balls hazed off.
Good reason to not join any of that shit.
Yea OP social frats are where its at, the accounting job I have now I got it because of an alumni who pledged in 1985....... I pledged in 09.....He went to a different school but a Kappa man he was and recognized son!
Absolutely. Not that I'd necessarily want you as part of my fraternity with that attitude, but I have networked through other chapters and found a lot of success.
I meant to say that I am a part of a social fraternity. Business fraternities are the opposite of cool.
I've used my social fraternity's national network and it has really helped.
The OP sounds like a toolbag though. You'll be recognized immediately as "THAT GUY", and you'll have no friends in the chapter anyways.
A real fraternity, yes.
Networking Through Fraternity Alumni? (Originally Posted: 09/18/2015)
I am currently a junior at a non-target and am trying to land an IB internship for the summer. Coming from a non-target school, I decided to start looking beyond my school's alumni network (not that I've discredited it by any means) and into my national fraternity's alumni network. After looking through my fraternity's LinkedIn group (10,000+ members) I noticed that I have a good number of brothers in IB.
Has anyone else taken this approach and if so how successful were you? Thanks! P!
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