Networking Templates, Sample Questions & Interview Follow-Up

• Always include how you came across someone’s name
• Mention shared connections in your outreach, such as a shared friend, referral, college major, or affiliation 
• Database websites such as Zoominfo, RocketReach, and Getemail.io are great tools to use when identifying an individual’s email address at a large, well-known firm. Although there is a cost associated with these websites, you are able to get 10 free searches a month with some. You can also review company websites that publicly list emails and identify an email formatting pattern, making it easier for you to reach out via email (note: this trick usually works better for smaller companies).
• When possible, always give several business days between your request and when you would like to meet. Unless you are deciding on an offer and have a deadline, it is ideal to make your ask at least a week in advance.
• Build into your outreach a follow-up plan. You may need to follow up on your initial message as people can easily miss emails, or messages may be sent to a spam folder. If you do not hear back within 5 to 7 days, follow up with another email inquiring if they received your initial email.
• Always send a thank you follow-up within 24 hours of when you talk to someone. For guidance, see our Interview and Networking Follow-up Resource.  
• Keep a “Networking Log” where you record contact info, date of contact, and a summary of each conversation. Creating and maintaining a searchable spreadsheet of information will help you stay organized and look professional.
• For guidance specific to your needs, schedule an appointment with a Center for Career Design Career Coach using Handshake! A coach will happily do a mock networking session with you, as well, to help you feel confident before your next meeting.

Subject Line: Dartmouth Student Seeking Career Advice

Dear <<insert name>>,

I came across your name on the Dartmouth LinkedIn page as an alum working in <<insert field or organization name>> I am currently (note your academic year and what you are exploring, occupations you are investigating, whether you are researching particular employers, etc.). I was hoping for the opportunity to talk with you and learn more about your experience post-Dartmouth and at X-organization, if your schedule allows.

I look forward to hearing back from you and the opportunity to connect with you in the near future. I am available by email or phone at 123-456-7890. For a phone or video chat, I am free to connect from 12:00-1:00pm Eastern and 5:00-8:00pm on weekdays. Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

<<Your Name>>

Only use the below referral templates when you have permission of your shared contact to make the outreach.

Referral Networking Email – Professor

Subject Line: Referral from Professor Wright

Dear <<Insert Name>>,

John Wright, my Psychology professor, encouraged me to reach out to you to learn more about your work with the National Institute of Health. As a Psychology major, I have a growing interest in the health field, and in particular, how I can expand my research interests beyond Dartmouth. Professor Wright shared with me your recent research being published on health challenges in low-income communities. I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to talk with you and learn about your post-Dartmouth experience and any advice you have for me as a student looking to enter the health field. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

<<Your Name>> 

Referral Networking Email – Family/Friend

Subject Line: Referral Follow-up from <<Insert Name>>

Dear <<Insert Name of Recipient>>,

My name is <<insert your name>>, and I am a member of the Class of 2024 at Dartmouth and a friend of <<insert friend’s name>>. While talking with <<insert friend’s name>> last week, we discussed in-depth my interest in learning more about the field of Environmental Consulting. I am planning to declare my major in Environmental Studies. <<Friend>> noted that you two recently spoke and encouraged me to reach out to you for an opportunity to set up an informational interview. If your schedule allows, I will be in the Washington DC area the first three weeks of December for my winter break, and I would appreciate the opportunity to meet and learn more about your role with the Environmental Working Group. Would you be available between 4 and 6pm any day of the week in December? 

Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Kind Regards,

<<Insert Your Name>>

• Use the cold call method if you have no contacts within a particular organization or field.
• Identify a contact at the organization, either within a department of interest, or a leader of the organization as a whole. Use Handshake, the organization’s website, or databases available through Dartmouth’s library to support your search.
  • If you cannot identify anyone to contact by email, call the main line of the organization (often provided in the Contact Us section of a website). 
  • Many of the databases accessible through the Dartmouth Undergraduate Job Hunting Guide provide contact information:
    • For-Profit Organizations: D&B Hoover’s
    • Private Companies: PrivCo
    • Nonprofit: GuideStar
    • Government Contacts: See Leadership Federal & Leadership Congress

Email Inquiry

Subject Line:  Dartmouth College Student Inquiry re: Fleur Museums

Dear <<Name>>

My name is <<insert name>>, and I am a current student at Dartmouth College majoring in Art History. Through recent online research I came across your organization. I was thrilled to read about the innovative work the team is doing at Fleur Museums, in particular the new exhibit series on post-colonialism in Africa. As a student with a growing interest in museums, and curatorial work in particular, I was hoping for the opportunity to speak with you or a member of the team. I would like to learn more about all the great work that is being done at Fleur Museums and what advice you may have for me as a current student wanting to gain more exposure to the field.

Thank you in advance for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you. I am also available by phone at (123-456-7890) from 12:00-1:00pm Eastern and 5:00-8:00pm on weekdays.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Smith 

Phone Inquiry

“Good morning, my name is <insert name>>. I am a current student at Dartmouth, and I came across X organization through online exploration. I was hoping to learn more about your organization. I am calling to see if I could schedule a time next week to speak with someone about their role and any advice they may have for me as a student interested in learning more about the field of <<insert field name>>.”

As you prepare for a networking or informational interview, it is important to remember: you have a story only you can tell—and so does the person with whom you are speaking. Your goal in the conversation is to listen to the other person’s story. Ideally, you want the Informational Interview to flow like a conversation. Ask questions in your own words that focus on what you want to know more about.  

When

• Send a thank you note email after interviews, info sessions, and networking conversations.
• Make every effort to send it within 24 hours of your interaction. If you are unable to meet that deadline, still send a response. It is much better to send a late response than none at all.

Why

• To express sincere gratitude for a positive interaction.
• To build a professional network of future colleagues and possibilities.
• To restate your interest in an opportunity and remind people why you would be a great person to have on their team.

What to Say

• Post-Interview. What you are thankful for: the opportunity to learn about the company and share your skills and interest in the company. Cite one specific aspect that resonated with you. Reiterate your interest in the position.
• Post-Networking. What you are thankful for: the opportunity to learn about the company and share your skills and interest in the company. Cite one specific detail that resonated with you. 

Interview Follow-Up

• Make sure to collect your interviewers’ names and email addresses. Ask the position contact/hiring manager/recruiter for this information if you don’t have it. Also ask about next steps and timeline, so you know when you can expect to hear back.
• If you interviewed with multiple people, you can address all of them in the same message, or send separate messages to each interviewer.
• If you haven’t heard back about a job or internship within 5 business days of the date you were given, send a polite follow-up email directly to the primary contact and re-state your interest. Ask if there is anything further you can do in support of your candidacy.

• It is okay to ask if you can stay in touch during a first conversation with a networking contact – follow the lead that they set. One good way to keep your momentum is to ask, “Do you have any recommendations of organizations or other people I could potentially reach out to in order to learn more?”
• There are two strategies you can use for maintaining/cultivating relationships:
  • Intentional: Set a pre-scheduled timeline for follow-up check-in, (sometimes this is suggested in advance by the individual – e.g. update me in six months).
  • Sporadic/Casual: Reach out again when something arises that reminds you of the contact.

Dear [name of person], 

Thank you for taking the time to talk to me [insert day]. I enjoyed my conversation with you and am excited about the possibility of joining your team.

In particular, I appreciated learning about your […]. It is very easy to see how dedicated you are to […], and also to […].

I would like to reiterate my interest in the […] position/internship.  I believe that my skills and experience in [insert 2-3 skills] would allow me to contribute to and further the [team name] team’s work in meaningful ways.

With gratitude,

[your name]

Subject: Thank you for your time.

Dear <<insert name>>, 

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about career paths in publishing. I learned a great deal about Simon and Schuster from our conversation. It has further increased my interest in pursuing a career in publishing. I also enjoyed hearing more about your graduate studies in publishing at Columbia. 

I plan to take your advice and contact Sally Smith at XYZ Company for more information about the publishing industry. Thank you for suggesting that I mention your name in my email. I will keep you updated on my progress and plans. 

I truly appreciate the assistance you have been able to provide. 

Sincerely, 

<<Your name>>

Take the time to properly cultivate networking relationships. A crucial part of networking is reaching out to contacts after the initial conversation, but without directly asking for a job. Below our sample ways to engage with people using information gained from a previous conversation. 

Reflecting on a Mutual Interest

Subject: The Grand Canyon

Dear <<Insert Name>>,

I recently had an opportunity to fly over the Grand Canyon. I was reminded of how you explained its formation to me. It was interesting to see the evidence of the erosion from the sky; now I am trying to figure out a way to get there on the ground. Have you had an opportunity to visit it more recently? I remember that you had hoped to take your daughter there.

Thank you again for your time last month. It was very informative, and I have had some great conversations since then with XXX and YYY whom you recommended. I am all set up for an internship this spring with ABC Firm. I will let you know how it goes.

Take care,

 <<Insert Name>>

Course Information That You Understood Better from a Conversation

Subject: ENG 10 & Our Conversation

Dear <<Name>,

We had a guest speaker in my Geography course the other day, <<insert name>>, and it reminded me of our conversation. She recommended that all students increase their ability to speed read in order to maximize their exposure and comprehension of the vast array of information being uploaded these days. Thanks to you, this wasn’t a new concept to me. However, some of my classmates were very surprised by this comment and are only now processing this information. 

Once again, thank you for the time you took to speak with me a few months ago.

Take care,

<<Your Name>>

Sharing Articles or Information from the News

Subject: Newsweek Article on the Publishing Industry

Dear Ms./Mr./Dr. X,

I recently read a Newsweek article stating that the publishing industry is taking a hit because of self-serve publishing software that has become popular over the last few years. I am curious what you may have to say in regards to this. The piece discussed how this trend will change certain career trajectories. How quickly do you think the newer publishing technologies will make a difference?

Here is a link to the piece: (enter link here) or hyperlink to the words “here”.

If you have the chance to read it, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts. Thank you and take care,

<<Your Name>>