Networking

Networking is simply "talking to people." -- jobstar.org

Networking is a life-long skill that is as critical to the job search as it is to professional success. F&ES provides ample opportunities to build and expand upon your existing network of colleagues, mentors, family and friends.

The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity. -- Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets To Success, One Relationship At A Time

What is Networking and How Do I Do It?

"A good network is a circle of friends."--Nick Corcodilos, asktheheadhunter.com

Explore the following internet resources to learn about networking, how it works and how to build and use your networks for career and other goals.

How To Build Your Network, a series of articles from Science Careers
Vault Guide to Schmoozing [electronic resource through Yale Library] / Marcy Lerner, et al.
An Introvert’s Guide to Networking, by Angela Marino, blogger on Brazen Careerist
Networking, from Monster.com
Networking & Your Job Search, from rileyguide.com
How Not To Network, Elise Benun, from biznik.com
How Not To Network, Humorous YouTube short by Kintish, UK Networking Specialist Firm
Use blogs as a career tool for becoming super-connected, Penelope Trunk, from the Brazen Careerist blog
Etiquette for LinkedIn and the Professional Networking World, Dave Taylor, The Business Blog at Intuitive.com

Notes About Finding Mentors

Studies show that having good mentors is key to career success. As you are building your network, finding mentors who can advise you on aspects of your career and professional development and provide information on opportunities is an extremely important element. (Sometimes known as "mentworking," a term coined by Beverly Kaye). Mentorship comes in many forms: your academic advisor can be an important mentor as can colleagues and many other individuals in your network.

Take An Active Role
"Be proactive about seeking out exceptional training opportunities and good mentorship. Don’t sit around and wait for someone to offer to train or mentor you, or you may wait a very long time indeed." -- Dr. Teresa Treat, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Yale, from WMW's Women On Campus

Tips for Finding Mentorship
7 Steps To Finding and Keeping A Mentor, Penelope Trunk, Brazen Careerist
Global Feature: Mentoring, Elizabeth Pain, from Science Careers
The Value of A Mentor, Katharine Hansen, PhD, from Quintessential Careers
Finding and Keeping A Career Mentor, Chaz Kyster, The Stanford Daily
Get Good Mentors By Building Relationships, Penelope Trunk, Brazen Careerist
Harness the Power of Mentoring, Networking to Help Your Career, Beverly Kaye and Devon Scheff, from National Business Employment Weekly, pdf, CTR.com website

The Informational Interview

Informational interviews are an opportunity to network as well as a career research tool for gathering information about an industry, an organization or a type of job. By and large people are happy to share information about what they do.

Mastering the Informational Interview, from NYTimes Career Columnist Marci Alboher, January 2008
How To: Initiating An Informational Interview Download below.

Initiating Informational Interviews
Initiating_Information_Interviews.doc

The F&ES and Yale University Network

CDO Alumni Database

CDO maintains a hard copy F&ES alumnae/i data base available in room 9 that can be used for contacting alumnae/i for informational interviews.

Yale Career Network

Yale Career Network is an ‘opt-in’ on-line networking tool that connects Yale students and alums with approx. 10,000 Yale alums from all graduate and professional schools and Yale College. With extensive search functions, it is a tremendous networking resource that can be used for arranging informational interviews, connecting with guest speakers, discussing career objectives and finding out about the thousands of institutions where Yale graduates are working.

Students and Alumni

Our students enter with diverse and impressive academic backgrounds and employment experiences. Research our recent students and alumni - including employment and internship information. Don't miss the opportunity to network with peers through student interest groups, in classes and socially, and with alumni at professional meetings, through informational interviews and on-campus.

Faculty

Our faculty are a tremendous resource for finding out about people, project and employment opportunities and other resources in their fields. Take the opportunity to learn about what all faculty are interested in and what they are publishing and working on. If you have a good question for someone, send them an email or set up a meeting. Information about courses, individual projects and research for current F&ES faculty is available.

Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

Yale's Environment School