Inspire Team

Networking Prompts

by for .  
##career exploration
45 - 60

Goal

This activity is designed to help learners navigate common networking prompts effectively. By practicing responses to questions about their profession, strengths, weaknesses, and career goals, learners will gain confidence in networking situations. Additionally, strategies for following up and maintaining connections will be discussed to enhance their networking skills.

Attachments

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Introduction

      1. Explain that the activity will focus on mastering common networking prompts.

      2. Emphasize the importance of effective communication in networking and building professional connections.


    1. Networking Prompts Review

      1. Introduce common networking prompts:

        1. "What Do You Do?"

        2. "What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?"

        3. "What Are You Looking for in Your Career/What Are Your Business Goals?"

        4. "How Can I Help You?"

      2. Provide the challenges associated with each prompt and share tips for addressing them. (See slides for more details)

    2. Networking Prompts Practice

      1. Encourage learners to individually respond to these prompts and reflect on their answers.

      2. Give them time to complete the worksheet (Appendix A) with their own responses to the prompts.

    3. Small Group Discussion

      1. Organize participants into small groups or pairs.

      2. Participants share their responses to the networking prompts and provide feedback to each other.

    4. Following up and Maintaining Connections

      1. Discuss the importance of follow-ups in networking. Following up can help with:

        1. Building relationships: Networking isn’t just about the initial interaction

        2. Demonstrating interest: This shows your genuinely interested in the person you met

        3. Solidifying impressions: It allows you to remind the person about your conversation and key points discussed, so they’re more likely to remember you down the line.

        4. Reciprocity: Networking is a two way street - following up allows you the change to express your gratitude for any insights, advice or support you received during teh initial interaction.

        5. Opportunity for collaboration: Continued communication opens the door for potential collaboration down the line.

      2. Share a sample follow-up message and discuss online etiquette.

        1. Refer to Google Slides for more information

    5. Role-Play Demonstration

      1. Conduct a brief role-play demonstration showcasing a follow-up scenario. Invite a co-facilitator or a learner to help you with the role play.

      2. Invite learners to help set the stage for the follow up scenario, and then model for them what that might look like (i.e. telephoning the person).

      3. Model effective communication strategies and emphasize the importance of personalized messages.

    6. Debrief

      1. Debrief the activity using the debrief questions provided below. 

    Background

    Preparation

    • Review the common networking prompts and associated challenges.

    • Create a sample follow-up message for demonstration purposes.

    Technology Considerations

    • No specific technology is required.

    • If conducting the activity virtually, ensure the platform allows for breakout rooms for discussion in pairs


    Additional Context

    • Highlight the real-world applications of effective networking in various professional contexts.

    • Emphasize that networking is not only about self-promotion but also about building mutually beneficial relationships.


    Tips for Localization

    • Encourage participants to share examples from their own cultural or professional context.

    • Adapt networking prompts to align with needs of learners.


    Debrief Questions

    • How did practicing responses to common networking prompts impact your confidence?

    • What insights did you gain from peer feedback during the small group discussions?

    • How do you plan to use the strategies discussed for following up and maintaining connections in your networking activities?

    • Share a key takeaway from today's session.

    • How might cultural considerations influence your approach to networking?

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