In this activity, you will develop a greater understanding of the importance of thoughtful networking vs professional networking by conducting a communication activity to 3 of the 10 businesses you identified in Part 2 of the Labour Market Research you completed.

Choose 3 of the 10 companies you researched in Part 2 of this project.

Phone each one, and ask to speak with someone who works in the same occupation as you are currently studying. Introduce yourself, identify yourself as a student with Robertson College, let them know which program you are studying, and ask them if they would help you for a few minutes by answering a few questions you have for an occupation research project you are working on for your diploma program.

You will take notes of their responses, and prepare a brief summary of your conversation with each one.

Summaries should be between 150-200 words for each company you speak with (total of 450-600 words).

Questions to ask:

Why did you choose to work in this occupation?

How many years have you been working in this occupation?

Can you tell me about your job search journey and how it led you to your current position?

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What kind of training or development do you participate in now to ensure your skills stay current in your occupation?

Would they consider hosting you for practicum? If they say YES to practicum, ask for contact information.

Are they currently hiring? If they are currently hiring, ask how they are accepting applications.

Finally, thank them for their time. Let them know how much you appreciate their willingness to chat with you, and if they are willing to host you or you want to apply for employment there, mention that you will be in touch soon.

Great work!

You have just engaged in both professional networking: making connections that can lead to employment, and thoughtful networking: which is a focused way to talk to people about your job search. Learn more about networking