Building Networking Skills

OBJECTIVE:

  • To develop foundational skills in networking, how to start conversations when meeting new people, and to introduce oneself.

MATERIALS:

  • A jar or bowl
  • Pieces of paper with different types of professionals a student might encounter, written on them
  • Steps to Networking Handout

Opening Huddle - 15 mins

Feel free to play music to generate energy and set the vibe!

Opening Ritual: Conduct your opening ritual or mood check!

Activity 1 - Setting the Stage

Goal: Provide overview of basic networking skills.

Networking Night is soon, students will have to connect with professionals and Next Gen students from other schools. Establish a foundation for students discussing the importance of meeting new people and networking. Show how connecting with professionals in their prospective fields can help them earn internships, recommendations, or informational interviews to learn more about the field of interest in the future.

Help facilitate a discussion to discuss the value in meeting new people and expanding their world and new relationships. 

Guiding Questions & Topics: 

  1. What’s your comfort level of meeting new people? 
  2. Discuss the different ways meeting new people, especially those in fields of interest could help yield future opportunities such as internships and recommendation letters.
  3. Encourage discussion among the group and ask for examples from students on positive interactions they have had with adults that have led to an opportunity.

Activity 2 - Debrief

Goal: Begin to develop the foundation of networking skills in a fun way using role play.

Review the steps to effective networking with students and help students practice the steps.

  1. Write different professions on a small piece of paper and fold them so they can’t be seen (Corporate Executive, Attorney, Medical Doctor, Police Officer, – try to select careers you know the students are interested in). 
  2. Place papers in a jar or container if available and students pull a profession.
  3. Help students role play their interaction with meeting the selected profession. 

Coach students during their interactions to develop the foundation of networking skills

Closing Discussion - 5 mins

Closing Ritual:  Feel free to play light background music to generate energy!