International Students

Networking in the US

According to research, 70% to 80% of candidates find their next job from someone they know. Therefore, networking is critical to landing your ideal job.  Networking is the practice of interacting with other people to exchange information and build relationships. Getting comfortable with networking takes practice so attend as many events as you can so you can become proficient and read our tips on this page.

The concept of networking may be very new for you and you might feel unsure how to start or do it. We recommend watching videos from world-renowned international student consultant, Judy Shen Filerman, about networking from the Dreambridge Partners Video Tutorial Library (free of charge).

Before you begin networking, consider these cultural expectations…

Looking for jobs in the U.S. requires a sense of the cultural attitudes and norms. For example, bowing to show respect could potentially work for a job in China, however, a firm handshake in the U.S. is the cultural norm for showing respect and salutations. Before you begin networking, consider these cultural expectations…

• Begin with a firm handshake while making direct eye contact.
• Display confidence in discussing your goals and achievements.
• Compose yourself with a relaxed posture.
• Be prepared to answer questions regarding likes/dislikes and strengths/weaknesses which are areas that might be taboo to ask about in your home country.
• Be knowledgeable about yourself and your achievements. Be prepared to tell your 30 second Commercial. Interview prep with your career coach and meeting new people can help you practice talking about yourself.
• You must create opportunity for yourself – don’t wait for people to invite you for an informational conversation, go to networking events and initiate conversations yourself.
• Practice your English as often as you can in and after class, with domestic students.
• Highlight how your international experience sets you apart and how an organization can benefit from your unique cultural and language skills.

Look into Toastmasters International

If you really want to master the art of networking and conversation with strangers, look into Toastmasters International.  There is a local Toastmasters right on campus.   A number of our international students have joined with the sole purpose of getting better at speaking and becoming more comfortable with making direct requests.  Check it out!

A Few Things to Consider About Networking 

• Know your goal: You will find your networking conversations are most effective when you have a clear goal. Do you want to know more about the trends in a specific industry, about the work culture in a company or find out how your background fits with a particular role? If you have clear goals, then it’s easier to develop focused questions.
• Think about who you already know: Who do you already know? Build a list of family, friends, professors, previous and current supervisors, co-workers, student’s organizations, alumni, professional associations, sports, fraternities and sororities, volunteer commitments, and religious affiliations that can help you.
• What to say: Start by saying “Hello, I’m [YOUR NAME].” If you are at a networking event put on a smile and walk up to someone and introduce yourself. Get to know the person: Spend the first minute getting to know them and try to find some common ground to help you connect to this person better.
• Appropriate networking topics:
  • Weather
  • Current job title and company
  • Sports/current events that are not political or religious in nature
• Topics to avoid:
  • Age
  • Religion
  • Politics
  • Personal Finances
  • Health
  • Gossip/Bad talk about others
• What if they do not seem interested? You may be friendly and people may not respond with equal interest – DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Some people are more comfortable networking than others.
• Where can I learn more? To learn more about the American Way of Small Talk, we highly recommend you look at some videos about Small Talk from the Dreambridge Partners Video Tutorial Library (free of charge).
• Share your 30-second commercial…Curiosity is one of the biggest factors of getting to know someone. Share your 30-second commercial. Remember your goal? It’s time to share it with people you talk to. This is your chance to integrate your experience and passion into the conversation and see if they or someone they know has a connection that would be helpful in your career pursuit. It’s also your chance to showcase your interests and skills to impress your new connection which will encourage them to want to help you further and share their personal connections..
  • Here is an example: “I really like watching basketball too, I actually attended a Celtics game recently and they beat the Bulls 63 to 45! It was a great game!  I’m really interested in sports, specifically sports marketing. I recently completed a social media and marketing internship/project with Play Works which is a nonprofit that helps raise money to integrate team building and physical activity into public school programs. I helped to increase awareness with my social media efforts and increased donations by 15%-it was a really great experience!  I’m hoping to connect to an internship that does more direct work with professional teams. Do you know anyone that does that type of work?”
• Remember…NEVER ask directly about sponsorship while networking.
• Follow-up: Now that you have had a good conversation with your networking connection be sure to do the appropriate follow up. Send them a thank you email within 24 hours while the connection is still fresh in their mind. If they offered to refer you to one of their connections be sure to mention it in the thank you email. When emailing with referrals be sure to respond to that person right away and set up a time to find out about opportunities. Be sure to reach back out to your original connection and let them know what happened.
• Professional associations for networking: The following are a sample of organizations that have local chapters in which you can attend events and meet new people. Many of these organizations offer free or reduced student rate memberships, some of them also post jobs.
  • Black Business Association
  • NABA National Association of Black Accountants
  • ALPFA Association of Latino Professionals for America
  • NAAAP National Association of Asian American Professionals Boston Chapter
  • AAPA Asian American Professional Association
  • AAAB Association of Asian American Bankers
  • AAAIM Association of Asian American Investment Managers
  • 3AF Asian American Advertising Federation
  • AWIB Asian Women in Business
  • KFS Korean Finance Society

Informational Conversations

Informational conversations, which can be the direct result of your networking efforts, are conversations with people that work in your career interest area, industry or company. They are a great way to learn more about industry trends, company work culture, different roles, career options, professional development opportunities, and company information.

You can even get insider interview and resume tips for your job search. The more certain you are about your future career goals the better prepared you will be to be able to conduct your job search.

BU Questrom Alumni are a great resource to gain more insight into industries, companies, and career paths.