Attending a career fair is one step towards cultivating a strong professional network and a career that matters to you. Take time to consider what you learned and what your next steps might be.
Maintaining contact with your new connections can feel hard and uncomfortable. As you cultivate your network, practice quality over quantity. If you had a good conversation with an employer who seemed to be engaged, reach out to them on LinkedIn, other social media or by email to remind them of that conversation and thank them for their time. Let them know what you appreciated about the conversation and that you’d like to keep in touch.
As time passes, try to consider how you can add value to their world. Did you come across an article related to their work? Forward it to them. Did they announce a major change on LinkedIn? Acknowledge their efforts and accomplishments. You can learn more about maintaining your network below.
Consider that cultivating professional relationships doesn’t have to be much different than cultivating friendships. You don’t have to develop strong friendships with your professional contacts but many of the same principles apply, including the following:
Remember, building professional relationships, or networking, is an essential career building activity. Think of it as a long-term investment in your future that can help you with the following:
LinkedIn notifies you if someone has a work anniversary, job change, or birthday. This is a great opportunity to stay connected with your new contact and reach out to them in casual and formal ways. You can also check out their profiles to find pages and people worth following.
When you request to connect, make sure you include a personalized introduction email so that they don’t think you are spamming them. Remind them of your previous meeting and let them know you value their time and experience.
With the UBC Hub of Ten Thousand Coffees, sponsored by RBC Future Launch, having career-driven conversations is easy. You'll receive one introduction per month to a fellow student or alum based on your career interests and goals.
Read the platform's Terms of Use (pdf) before signing up.
Once you sign up to the platform, matches are made automatically and optimized to your preferences. You are even given suggested talking points!
If you’d like to have a follow-up conversation with someone you met, request an informational interview. Review the informational interviews guide to learn more.
Your new contact may be able to introduce you to others in your field of interest. If you feel it is appropriate, ask if they know anyone else you should talk to. When they make a suggestion, ask if they can introduce you directly. If this isn’t possible, name them as your referral source when you reach out to the potential new contact independently.
It’s important not to overwhelm your new contacts by asking for too much. Consider what you can offer that they would benefit from or enjoy. Remember, relationships that are mutually beneficial are the most successful. Here are some ideas to get you started:
