UR Career Network Tips

The UR Career Network is an online network for the University of Richmond community - alumni, students and employers. Participants can explore industries and career fields, seek out internships and jobs and learn about each other's career paths.

Networking Tips:

• Be mindful how difficult it can be for a student and/or alumnus to ask for career advice.
• Be mindful that each student/alumnus is unique.
• Be sure to respond to networking requests in a timely fashion, even if it is to let them know you received their inquiry and will be getting back to them at a later time
• Discuss the realities of your profession
• Explore the motivation of the student/alumnus for his/her field of interest. Encourage them to gain exposure to professional settings through volunteer work, internships, and shadowing.
• Refer them to additional resources that you believe will aid their professional development, exploration or search for opportunities.
• If you and your contact choose to meet in person, The Career Development Center at UR encourages you to meet either on the Richmond campus (space can be made available at the CDC) or in your valid place of business.  We do not encourage you to meet in non-public spaces.

What to Expect When You Serve as a Career Network volunteer:

• UR students and alumni who have expressed sincere interest in the UR Career Network will search SpiderConnect for profiles of interest to them.  Students and alumni will be contacting you via e-mail as an initial step.
• An exchange of e-mails may be sufficient.  However, in most situations a phone call between you and the student or alumni may be helpful.  One discussion may be enough to answer questions or an ongoing relationship may ensue allowing you to give ongoing advice.  You are able to set you own limit as far as involvement.  Networking can be a mutually beneficial exchange for professional development. 
• At anytime you can update or inactivate your profile (so the network cannot see it). 
• A Career Development Center staff person may on occasion, contact you about further involvement on career programming on campus for students—no obligation on your part.