LinkedIn and Networking Resources
Build meaningful professional connections, grow your confidence, and learn how to use LinkedIn and networking strategies to explore careers, connect with employers, and uncover opportunities.
Why networking matters
Networking helps you explore careers, build professional relationships, and discover opportunities that may not be publicly advertised.
Expand your network
Connect with alumni, recruiters, and professionals in your field.
Explore career paths
Learn about industries, company culture, and day-to-day work.
Discover hidden opportunities
Many internships and jobs are filled through referrals and connections.
Build confidence
Practice professional conversations and communication skills.
How to start networking
Networking doesn’t have to feel overwhelming – start small, stay curious, and focus on building genuine connections.
Start on campus
Don't wait until graduation to start networking. Begin building relationships during your college years.
- Career fairs
- Employer showcases
- RSOs
- Alumni events
- Guest speakers
Prepare and practice
Informational interviewing: Informational interviews allow you to learn about different careers and industries from professionals.
Elevator pitch: Before you attend any event, create a clear and memorable statement that highlights your skills, experience, and career goals.
Follow up
Send a thank-you message, stay connected on LinkedIn, and continue the conversation professionally.
- Express gratitude for the conversation and reiterate your interest in the person's field or company.
- If you're interested, politely ask if the person would be willing to meet again.
- Stay connected by liking their posts on social media or commenting on their work.
Networking make you nervous?
Many students feel anxious about networking at first. Focus on having genuine conversations, asking thoughtful questions, and learning from others – not being perfect.
Strategies for starting conversations:
- Choose your events wisely: Select events that align with your interests and comfort level. Smaller, more intimate gatherings can be less overwhelming.
- Find common ground: Look for shared interests or experiences to break the ice.
- Practice icebreakers: Prepare a few open-ended questions or conversation starters to help you initiate conversations.
- Ask open-ended questions: Encourage conversation by asking questions that require more than a simple yes or no answer.
- Active listening: Show genuine interest in what others are saying by making eye contact, nodding, and asking follow-up questions.
- Be yourself: Authenticity is key. Don't try to be someone you're not.
LinkedIn profile must-haves
For a lot of recruiters these days, if you aren't on LinkedIn you don't exist. Developing a stellar profile and a strong presence will build your professional credibility and help you to get noticed. Once you get your LinkedIn page up-to-date and packed with relevant keywords, you'll likely be surprised at how much more attention your profile will get.
- Professional profile photo
- Background cover picture that reflects who you are professionally
- Engaging headline: Replace generic titles (e.g., U of I Student) with more descriptive ones featuring keywords aligned with your professional interests or goals (e.g., Gies Business Student Majoring in Marketing | Experienced Marketer | Brand Strategy, Digital Marketing & Consumer Insights)
- Customized URL (i.e., www.linkedin.com/in/namehere)
- Strong “About Me” section that briefly summaries your educational and professional background
- Summary and descriptions of relevant experiences, projects, work, and organizations that highlights your skills
- Keyword optimized
- Active engagement (share relevant articles, posts, and career updates; interact with other people’s posts)
LinkedIn Resources
Maximize your LinkedIn Profile using the helpful videos linked below.
Connect with alumni and recruiters
LinkedIn can help you build relationships with alumni, recruiters, and professionals who share your career interests.
Why Connect with Alumni and Professionals on LinkedIn?
- Career Guidance: Gain valuable insights into different career paths, industry trends, and company cultures from experienced professionals.
- Informational Interviews: Set up informational interviews to learn more about specific roles, companies, and industries.
- Mentorship: Find mentors who can offer guidance, support, and advice throughout your career.
Using LinkedIn to connect with Alumni
- Start by visiting the University of Illinois or Gies College of Business LinkedIn pages, then use the "Alumni" tab to refine your search
- Try using the search bar to select your criteria (such as company name, industry, or position title), review the alumni that match your criteria, and identify people that you'd like to connect with to learn about their careers
- Send a brief, 2-3 sentence message introducing yourself as a Gies student, expressing interest in their career, and requesting an informational interview to learn more about their career path
How to Connect with Recruiters on LinkedIn
- Use LinkedIn's search function: Start by searching for "Recruiter" along with your desired industry, target company, and location. Look for mutual connections and reference them when relevant.
- Filter your search: Use filters to narrow down your search based on location, industry, and company size. If you'd like to focus your search on specific job titles, you can also search "recruiting for [Name of Position, Location]" and change the "People" filter on the left side to "Content." You may find posts advertising openings for the exact job you want.
- Look for recruiters with open positions: Check recruiters' profiles to see if they have any current job openings.
- Send personalized connection requests: Send the recruiter a brief, 2-3 sentence message. Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in connecting and how your skills align with their needs.
More ways to engage
- Join Relevant Groups: Participate in industry groups and alumni associations to connect with like-minded individuals.
- Engage in Discussions: Share your thoughts, ask questions, and contribute to conversations to demonstrate your knowledge and interest.
LinkedIn Request: A Gies alum
Hi, Mr. Smith,
I'm a Gies College of Business student and was excited to come across your profile as a fellow member of the Gies community. I'm currently exploring accounting careers and would love to learn more about your path to becoming an International Tax Partner at PwC, particularly your experience in international tax. If you're open to it, I'd greatly appreciate the opportunity to connect for a brief 15-20 minute conversation.
Thank you for considering my request!
LinkedIn Request: A professional you've never met
Dear (insert name),
I am a current student at the University of Illinois and I have been reading your blog on LInkedIn for six months and really appreciate the insights you share. I would love to spend twenty minutes hearing how you got started and learn more about where your career is headed. Please let me know if you would be willing to chat.
Best,
LinkedIn Request: A recruiter you've never met
Dear (insert name),
I am a current student at the University of Illinois and will be graduating in May. I am very interested in your Supply Chain position. I have experience leading a team as an intern last summer at Coyote Logistics. I'd love to connect and learn more about the opportunity at your company.
Best,
LinkedIn Request: Someone you worked with
Dear (insert name)
I enjoyed working with you as an intern at (insert company) last summer. In fact, I still use some of the Excel workarounds you taught our team! If you are free sometime in the next month, I would love to hear more about your role at (insert company) since this is a career path that I'd like to explore.
Thank you!
LinkedIn Request: Someone you worked for
Hi (insert name),
It was great to work together last year on (project name). You were an excellent project manager, and I learned so much from you! Congratulations on your new role at (company name). I'm considering a similar career path and would love to reconnect and learn more about your role.
Best,
LinkedIn Request: A friend of a friend
Hi (insert name),
My close friend Elli Stevens suggested that I reach out to you. She interned at your company last summer and raved about your leadership skills. I'm a current sophomore at U of I and am interested learning more about career paths in brand management. I'd love to speak with you about your career.
Best,
LinkedIn Request: Someone you met at an event
Hi (insert name),
I really enjoyed the recent Gies CEO event that you participated in as a panelist. I'd love to connect and learn more about how you decided to work as Consultant for PwC.
Thank you!
How to conduct an informational interview
An informational interview is a meeting to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or company that interests you. It's not a job interview, so it's important to keep focused on getting information, not a job offer.
Benefits of Informational Interviewing
- Get firsthand, relevant information about the realities of working within a particular field, industry or position. This kind of information is not always available online.
- Get tips and insider knowledge about how to prepare for and land your first career position.
- Learn what it's like to work at a specific organization.
- Initiate a professional relationship and expand your network of contacts in a specific career field; meet people who may forward job leads to you in the future.
Arrange the Interview
Either call or e-mail to make contact. The introduction could be: "Mrs. Smith, Brad Johnson suggested I speak with you. My name is Steven Olson and I am interested in the ________ field. I could use advice from someone who is in this field. Do you have time in the next two weeks to meet for about 20 minutes? I would really like to learn more about your company and the ________ field from someone with your experience."
Hold the Meeting
Develop a brief introduction of yourself and your hopes for the meeting. After introductions, give a brief summary of your career goal, or what you want to learn from them. Prepare plenty of questions to make good use of the time. Respect their time. Ask the person if you may contact them again in the future with other questions. Ask for names of other people to meet so as to gain different perspectives.
Follow Up
Send a thank-you note within 1-2 days to express your appreciation for the time and information given. Based on whether the informational interview was relatively informal or more businesslike, this may be a brief handwritten note, an email, or a business letter.
Keep records: Write down what you learned, what more you'd like to know, and what your next steps should be. Follow up on any actions that you said you would take based on their recommendations (e.g., reaching out to a colleague).
Keep in touch with the person, especially if you had a particularly nice interaction; let them know that you followed up on their advice and the outcome. This person could become an important part of your network.
Sample Questions
To learn more about a career field, ask questions like these:
- What is a typical day like in your job?
- What do you like most / least about this career?
- Is your job typical of others in this field?
- What are current job prospects like?
- Are there related fields I might want to look into?
- What makes a resume impressive in your field?
- Is my resume appropriate for this occupation?
- How do you stay current in your knowledge?
- What are employers looking for in this career (skills, education, experience)?
- What's the best way to find out about jobs in this field?
- What is the career ladder for this position?
- What would you recommend I do at this point to get into this field?
- What are the future trends for this field?
- Is there anyone else you would recommend I talk to in this field?
To build rapport, ask questions like these:
- What was your favorite part of your college experience?
- What extracurricular activities or organizations were you involved with?
- What kinds of internships or roles did you have as a student?
- How do you like living in your current location?
To learn more about a specific company, ask questions like these:
- What's the corporate culture like here?
- How do you normally hire for this occupation?
- What is the average turnover in this type of job?
- Which firms do you think are your toughest competitors, and how do they differ from your company?
Need personalized career support?
Every career journey is different. Meet with a Career Advisor for one-on-one guidance tailored to your goals, questions, and next steps.