Networking for Fellowships and Internships

As we wind down the Social Networking theme of the month, I wanted to touch on networking for fellowships and internships.  Many of you are graduating and starting fellowships or close to graduation and taking advantage of a summer internship this time of year so it’s important to be ready for the networking opportunities that are about to be in your lap.  And if you are one of those people who are graduating and going right to work, be sure to check out all the great advice for new grads provided this week around the business channel.

Have you ever worked with somebody who seems more interested in networking than working?  We’ve already talked about the dont’s of social networking via social media like MySpace but there is also a lot of opportunity for in-person networking, especially for new grads who may be utilizing fellowships and internships as a bridge to a full-time job. Fellowships and internships are tricky because it’s a networking opportunity you don’t want to let slip away, however, there is always a primary responsibility attached to it that can’t be overlooked.

If an organization has offered you an internship or a fellowship, take it!  You’ll be there to learn, but these also give the employer a chance to take you for a test drive.  And the bigger the organization, the more networking opportunities are available to you.  It can be tempting to play up the ole I’m-a-student-so-they-shouldn’t-expect-much-from-me card and focus more of your time and energy on networking, but trust me, this is a mistake.  Remember that you’ll probably want to put this experience on your resume which means they’ll be contacting the person you were reporting to, not the people you spent time networking with.  Here’s a few of Do’s and Dont’s to remember while networking

Do

1. Make connections with leaders in areas of interest.  It is always helpful to have a lot of people hanging out there who can say “oh yeah, I know that guy. Good guy.”
2. Talk up your project while you network.  Remember that you want these people to know you in a work capacity so it’s important to show them that you are excited about your project and that you are learning a lot.  You want to leave people you network thinking “man I want somebody who talks about my project like this!”
3. Make your primary project your first priority.  Don’t be afraid to say “thanks for offering to have lunch with me. Unfortunately I’ve got a conference call scheduled at that time and it’s a call that’s going to be a deciding factor in the success or failure of my project so I really need to be available.  Are you available a half an hour later or can I buy you dinner?”  This will show the folks you are networking with that you understand the importance of project milestones and deadlines.

Don’t

1. Spend more time making your next lunch date than you do working on that important project.  If you throw your project together at the last minute just to meet the deadline, it will show in your work.
2. Neglect your primary responsibilities while networking to try to find a bigger better job.  Remember, you still want a great reference from your current manager.
3. Be an extreme name dropper.  Most people are put-off by that.

If you have a good (or bad) fellowship or internship experience, please leave us a comment to tell us about it.  We can all benefit from your experience. 

More on social networking from Interview Chatter.