Networking Tips For the College Student

Networking is becoming increasing popular on the collegiate scene and many students are taking advantage of its valuable benefits. College students are networking at campus social events, volunteer/community activities, lectures, conferences and career fairs. College students can also branch out and start to build social and professional relationships with their business counterparts for ongoing success. Although it may appear that students have limited funds, limited time and limited resources, this article is designed to shatter those false theories and provide opportunities for college students to excel in their networking endeavors!

Listed below are tips and suggestions which are practical for college students who are networking and want to build relationships for academic and career advancement.

The Great Follow Up

Networking Tips For the College Student

College students are encouraged to follow up immediately after meeting professionals, business people and other college students at networking events. Follow ups can be in the form of email, phone calls or written correspondence. The follow up should not only be timely, but also professional and meaningful for both parties involved. In the follow-up make sure to include the reason for following up and the purpose of building a relationship.

On Campus Activities

College students should be very proactive in their networking objectives and initiate one-on-one gatherings. It is an excellent way to build relationships and develop their networking skills. Although college students tend to operate on limited funds, here are a few suggestions of how they can approach their business counterparts for success meetings.

Art / Cultural Shows On Campus

We recommend that college students invite professionals and colleagues to art, cultural and social activities on campus. Most of these events are free and if they are after hours, your business counterparts might not have to pay for parking. It is a great opportunity to show your business counterpart around the campus and inform them of various activities within the student body.

Lunch on Me

College students can also offer to meet up with their business counterparts on campus and have lunch at the cafeteria or at a nearby restaurant. Depending on the eating situation, students can use their student id card or meal plan to cover the meal expenses. Yes, if you are inviting someone to breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is your responsibility to pay. The other person may be courteous and pay for their half but do not always assume the latter. It is a sign of respect, etiquette and kindness.

Head of the Class

Another great way to build relationships, is to invite your business counterpart to sit in on one of your favorite classes or lectures/speeches. It would be a great learning experience and you can use that opportunity to introduce your counterpart to your professor, friends and other college/university staff. You can also use that opportunity to ask to be invited to social and business events of your business counterpart.

These are excellent ideas for building relationships, taking initiatives and moving towards your networking goals. College students should also remember to follow up in a timely manner, be punctual for all events and meetings and to be professional in their social and business dealings with their business counterparts.

Networking Tips For the College Student
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What Are the Effects of Social Networking Websites?

"Words can't describe me", is how Adnan Patrawala, 16 yr old teenager from Mumbai, India had described himself on his Orkut profile. However, his kidnappers and murderers got to know a little more of him and ensnared him into a trap which ultimately led to the death of the young boy. This is perhaps an extreme example of the social impact of these social networking sites such as Orkut, Facebook, MySpace and Friendster on today's youth. But there is no denying its presence or its effects in our lives and minds today.

Often these days when we make new friends we do not ask, "What's your number?" Or "What's your email id?" Instead we ask, "What's your MySpace"? or "Are you on Orkut?" Such is the impact of these sites on our lives .The way we speak, the way we interact and the way we think is changing. Words such as scrapping, blogging, teasers---which a few years back wouldn't have made any sense to anybody; but today it's being used with so much spontaneity.

As a matter of fact, Google even has links to sites, which gives the world's most popular acronyms. It is amusing but that is the way it is.

What Are the Effects of Social Networking Websites?

However, these sites fulfill a very basic criterion of humans. It is that of communication. People living in extreme corners of the world are seen to be getting married, friends from far-off places are able to keep in touch with each other and lovers from two parts of the world stay connected with each other's emotional needs. These help us make new friends, stay in touch with the old ones and let us know more about the persons we care... their likes, dislikes, interests and emotions.

There is an element of addictiveness in these sites and the youth are indeed getting endeared more and more into this addiction. The most appealing thing among these sites is that they provide a platform for the individuals to express their views, gives them the freedom of choice and expression... from anti-war campaigns to global warming issues, from Harry potter fan clubs to Osama bin Laden hate clubs... there is everything for everyone to share and speak about.

What else could be more appealing than the thought of being heard not just by your group of friends but to the whole wide world. And that is where I feel these sites are here to stay. It just emphasizes the fact that man is a social being and shall always remain so.

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How Can I Locate Someone at No Charge? - Just Do This

You may be asking, how can I locate someone at no charge? Well I know of several ways you can use.

Almost all of the people locator websites I know will try and get you to pay a certain price for accessing their database. This might be in the form of a small fee for additional content or profile information or in the form of getting your contact details in exchange. That is, you give them yours they give you the one you are looking for.

So essentially you should decide what you consider to be a charge based on what is important to you. What I mean is that, you can choose to give away your contact information and access the information you are looking or you can use the limited free information that is provided at the first phase of your search.

How Can I Locate Someone at No Charge? - Just Do This

By the way what I have just discussed above is relevant only if you decide to use a people locator and not other "manual" alternative, which I discuss briefly below.

Now my best answer to the question, how can I locate someone at no charge is that you need to search through some social networking sites. These carry millions of profiles on different people across the globe. The trick here is that you will need to register first - give away your personal details first.

My last option on how you can locate someone at no charge is through websites that source their information from a variety of people based websites online. It's like those comparison websites you go to before you shop online. In this case the sites focus on finding the best locator that has all the information you are looking for.

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The Importance of Networking in Business

Building up a network of diverse people is very helpful for any business. Contacts with different clusters or groups would help you possibility of greater opportunities. A closed group of contacts will not let you this kind of exposure.

The more diverse the network is the better it would be. Your networking should cut across the geographical boundaries. When you attend group meetings, collect the business cards of other people. Meeting people frequently could help you to could bring you business.

Networking would help you to expand your contact list. This could help you to expand your sales base. It could also bring you in touch with different requirements help you to diversify your business.

The Importance of Networking in Business

However busy you are you should give importance to networking.. It is important to create a lasting first impression on people whom you meet. The impression you create will bring you greater business opportunities. You should always try to keep in touch will the contacts you have developed.

You should help people in your network. This would not only bring you goodwill but also business. If a person has a product to sell, giving him the contact number of a person who needs the product will help you in the long run.

You should identify ways and means to improve your networking. You should view networking and relationship building as a continuous process. Networking aids the growth of your business and expands your horizon. It would aid you in creating new products and expanding your knowledge.

If you are a professional you should seek new ideas and pastures that would help you to grow. If you are attending a networking meeting, be well prepared. Think in advance as to what kind of people you are going to interact with. When you meet people, you find out what their requirements are and whether you can fulfill them.

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iPhone Marketing Strategy

As with all Apple marketing, the iPhone marketing strategy is very clear, simple and clever. With the plain and simple apple icon, Apple focuses on the pure innovative style of their products without all the "fluff". The iPhone was released by Apple in June, 2007. The ground-breaking style of the iPhone was touted for months before the initial release and has remained the best of the best when it comes to cell phones over the past several years. Before the iPhone's official release, Apple ran four television commercials promoting the new cell phone.

The first of the commercials portrays the new iPhone as the next step up from the popular iPod. The iPod was all the rage up until this point, and the iPhone was supposed to be the next-generation iPod, oh, and it's also a phone! The advertisement displays all of the enhanced features available in the iPod, and more, the point being "There's never been an iPod that can do this."

"So, say you're watching Pirates of the Caribbean"
Finger clicks on video and displays wide screen movie.
"Mmm, did somebody say Calamari?"
Finger clicks back to menu, selects Maps application to search 'Seafood'.
"The closest would be..."
Map displays all seafood locations and highlights location nearest to you.
"Ah!"

iPhone Marketing Strategy

Finger clicks seafood location, and restaurant phone number displayed. iPhone dial's.

The first four iPhone commercials flaunted the convenience, innovation, and usefulness of a single product with the functionality of not only a phone, or a music device, but a product that can, among other things, listen to music, watch videos, view photos, make conference calls, check e-mail, browse the web, and view maps.

Not only does Apple utilize television for their marketing strategy, but they make use of their website by posting videos, they also published a handful of press releases that could have been released in one single document. Apple often uses this tactic to build up hype and leave the consumer wanting more.

With Apple's brief press releases, giving the audience little to go off, "Apple leveraged a law of social physics - news, like nature, abhors a vacuum. In the absence of real information, those who care about a product will grasp at any rumor that comes their way. Apple may publicly disavow the rumor Web sites that scramble for scraps about the companies plans, but secretly their marketing department must be delighted. It would cost a lot to buy that kind of Web advertising." (Silverman, 2007)

The official iPhone website does more than just provide information about the product. The website provides top tips and tricks for the use of an iPhone, as well as a huge focus on apps. Almost the entire iPhone page displays images of apps, provides the "App of the Week," the website also contains sections titled "Apps for Everything," and the "Top Apps." Apple's website is a great marketing tool for current iPhone users and consumers that have an interest in purchasing the iPhone. The promotion of the apps will create a stronger source of revenue for Apple. As customers see top rated applications, they are more likely to download the app, rather than searching through 25,000+ apps to find one that may be of any value to the consumer.

Successful younger men were the target audience that Apple had originally focused on. Apple had hoped that with this target audience, and the fact that 48% of this audience did not already own an Apple iPod, would allow them to reach their forecast of 10 million sales by the end of 2008.

One month prior to the release of the iPhone, Solutions Research Group profiled a cross-section of those aware of the phone. The forecast of potential buyers for the day of the release ranked a majority of T-Mobile customers, AT&T's only GSM-based product competitor, at 15%. The second largest group expected to purchase the new iPhone was AT&T's existing customer base, at 12%. The Solutions Research Group also found that 72% of males, versus 28% of women were most likely to investigate the phone at its minimum price of 9. (Malley, 2007)

The obvious current target audiences for the Apple iPhone include young people between the ages of 20 and 35, affluent teenagers, "jet-setters", and "mobile" employees who work outside of the office.

Apple is known for their simplistic, but catchy commercials. In recent television commercials for the Apple iPhone, "There's an App for that" is the new catch phrase that places a strong focus on the apps available from the App Store. Apps, or applications, are in "every category, from games to business, education to entertainment, finance to health and fitness, productivity to social networking. These applications have been designed to take advantage of iPhone features such as Multi-Touch, the accelerometer, wireless, and GPS" (Apple, 2009). Apple currently claims to have 25,000+ apps available, and counting.

The focus on the variation of apps offered opens up the target audience greatly. There is essentially an app for everyone. As a few of the iPhone commercials advertise, you can find the snow conditions on the mountain, track calories in your lunch, find exactly where you parked your car. You can find a cab in a strange city, find your share of the bill for a table of 5, or learn to fix a wobbly bookshelf. You can read a restaurant review, read an MRI, or just read a regular old book. These are just a few of the features that Apple has promoted through television commercials. iPhone apps provide every functionality that one can imagine.

When the iPhone was initially released, it was priced at a hefty 9. Still, hundreds of thousands of people rushed out to get the new phone, forking over a third as much as they would have had they waited an extra 3 months. 3 months after the initial release, Apple reduced the price of the iPhone to 9. This enraged Apple's loyal customers and consumers who purchased the new phone just months earlier. One year later, Apple again reduced the price of the iPhone to 9, 66% less than the original price.

In July, 2007, the Apple iPhone was all the hype. I believe that Apple's decision to release the phone at 9 was slightly based on greed. However, their product was the most innovative out in the market place, giving Apple the freedom to price the iPhone at whatever they wanted. Many believed that Apple had cut the price after discovering lower than expected iPhone sales. Apple, however, states that the price cut was made "to spur holiday sales and predicted that Apple would meet its stated goal of selling its 1 millionth iPhone by the end of September." (Dalrymple, 2007)

As with the product life cycle of any cell phone or Apple product, including Apple's iPod, prices are often reduced drastically months after the initially release. Tech products are always competing against "the latest and greatest" while maintaining a relevant price in the market place. Had Apple not reduced the price of the iPhone, the customer base would have dwindled quickly as many consumers are unwilling to spend 9 on a cell phone, no matter how many useful features the phone may carry.

As the iPhone remains to be the number one smart phone around, the product continues to grow, increasing size capabilities, increasing the number of applications available, and providing new features that are released through new iterations of the phone, continue to provide a greater value to the iPhone while the pricing remains relevant.

At this time in the product life cycle, Apple continues to release enhanced iterations of the iPhone. With most iPhone users un-willing to purchase a newer version of the iPhone because of price, the target audience for the newer generation phones is new iPhone customers. With Apple's installed base continuing to grow, they have found a way bring in reoccurring revenue from their existing customers through the sales of their application downloads. As more and more people purchase the iPhone, Apple's audience for new customers continues to dwindle. Fortunately for Apple, they have built in another source for revenue that continues throughout the life of the product.

References

(2009). Apple: iPhone. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from Apple

Dalrymple, J (2007, Sep, 11). Lessons learned from the iPhone price cuts. PCWorld, Retrieved Apr 26, 2009, from http://www.pcworld.com/article/137046/lessons_learned_from_the_iphone_price_cuts.html

Silverman, D (2007, Jul, 10). Apple's silence helped the iPhone hype. Chron.com:Computing, Retrieved Apr 26, 2009, from http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4954824.html

Malley, A (2007, Jun, 6). Apple, AT&T neophytes to define iPhone audience - report. AppleInsider, Retrieved Apr 26, 2009, from AppleInsider Website

Mukherjee, A (2007, Feb, 28). iPhone under attack. Business Today, Retrieved Apr 26, 2009, from the business today website

iPhone Marketing Strategy
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Networking - Is That the Way to Get a Job These Days?

"Whenever I see advice from someone about how to find a job all I ever hear is - network, network, network," says the unemployed woman. "What is all this network stuff about?" she asks.

Here are some answers to those of you who are wondering the same thing - what is this network, network, network?

Fact:

Networking - Is That the Way to Get a Job These Days?

The majority of all jobs (70-80%) are found through networking.

The best way to get a job is to get out there and be seen - network, network, network.

Where do I network?

Everywhere - meetings, classes, job fairs, open houses, social events, association meetings.

With whom do I network?

Everyone - family, friends, neighbors, ex-bosses, former co-workers, vendors you worked with in your last jobs, competitors of your last job, contacts through others, informational interviewing - interview.monster.com/rehearsal/informational/

Talk to people who are doing the type of work that you might like to do. Identify contacts by asking, "is there anyone else you could recommend I speak with?" or "do you know anyone in ___ career who might be willing to talk to me?".

This is about sales and numbers - get out there and get contacting. Rehearse and script what you are going to say when you do follow up.

What if they ask you what you are looking for? Have an answer ready.

What if they ask you, "Tell me about yourself?" Have an answer ready to go. This is your product information - and you are the product. What do you have to offer?

If you're posting resumes on the Internet sites and waiting for something to happen you are making a big mistake - and may be in for a long wait.

That is the passive way to search for a job, and it used to work. But in today's competitive job market you are hoping against the odds of getting noticed.

To Network - Or not to Network?

Not To Network

1. I don't want to bother anyone - don't want to be a nuisance.
2. I really don't know anyone who would be of any help anyway.
3. Why bother - it won't do any good.

To Network

1. The "Hidden Job Market" - 60% of jobs not listed.
2. #1 method for finding a job is through "the grapevine".
3. It's just talking to people - formally and informally.

Network Mistakes

1. Not introducing yourself in a confident manner
2. Not mentioning a referral name
3. Not focusing - or focusing too much on self-interest
4. Not being prepared - one - two minute "personal statement"

Be Prepared

1. Any time, any place
2. Go beyond your personal contacts
3. Establish a rapport
4. Look for opportunities to reciprocate
5. Keep your promises

Watch your network grow and the knowledge you gain by contacting people you know (and do not know) in order to find information about an industry, organization, or job/internship.

Why does networking work? Networking works because you are being proactive and driven by your resourcefulness. Networking puts you in touch with individuals who can give you 'insider information' on vacancies, industry or organizational culture, and required skills, etc.

Network, Network, Network....

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Networking Tips: Learn How to Talk at Networking Events by Borrowing Professional Speakers' Strategy

If you find yourself somewhat at a loss when it comes to small talk or conversing at networking events, borrow a lesson from professional speakers. They prepare their speeches, research their audiences and practice in advance so that every presentation is interesting, compelling and helps them fulfill their mission and grow their businesses.

How does a professional speaker develop a speech? They have three basic parts that they work on in a prepared presentation: structure, content and delivery. Think about these questions before your next business to business networking event and you'll never be at a loss for what to say (and how to say it).
Here are three sets of networking tips based on this presentation format. Next time you are wondering how to network, start with this basic set up and have answers ready to these questions.

Structure: How do you want to present your information? Do you have a compelling self-introduction? Do you have a prepared question for asking to follow-up? Do you start with your job description? Or do you want to talk about family and more personal items? Do you have a prepared introduction or description (so that you don't fumble when asked)? Do you have an interesting or engaging answer to the (sometimes repetitive) questions you get asked? Content: What do you tell them about you? How much detail about your job, family and interests do you want to reveal? Are you familiar with the news or issues of the day? Do you have some standard questions that you always ask? What do you say or talk about if the conversation flags? Delivery: How do you present yourself? Do you know whether you're coming across as interested or bored? Energetic or lethargic? Smiling or serious? Do you rush through your personal introduction because you've heard it a thousand times (it's the first time for them)? What is your body language saying? Does your clothing and manner reflect your profession and position?

Networking Tips: Learn How to Talk at Networking Events by Borrowing Professional Speakers' Strategy

Take these networking tips to plan ahead for your networking experiences. Plan what you are going to say and like an experienced speaker, practice but don't memorize so that it still sounds natural and spontaneous (this is part of good delivery).

Next time you wonder what you're going to do and say at the next business event or club meeting, think about your structure, content, and delivery. Professional speakers prepare in advance, why not you?

Networking Tips: Learn How to Talk at Networking Events by Borrowing Professional Speakers' Strategy
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Network Design Process - Effective Network Planning and Design

Overview

The network planning and design methodology describes a process with 9 specific steps and a sequence for those activities. As mentioned it is an engineering life cycle that supports technical initiatives such as Windows migration, IP telephony and wireless design to name a few examples. The methodology begins with examining company business requirements. It is absolutely essential that you understand the company business model, business drivers and how they are growing from a business perspective. That will build the foundation for a design proposal that serves the business, technical and operational requirements of the company.

STEP 1: BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS

Network Design Process - Effective Network Planning and Design

Any design project starts with an understanding of what the company does and what they need to accomplish from a business perspective. This begins with an understanding of their business model, which really describes how their company works from an operational and business perspective to generate revenues and reduce costs. Many vendors today have conducted their own return on investment (ROI) studies for new implementations such as Unified Communications and Telephony. It is an effective sales tool that illustrates the cost benefits compared with investment over a specified period of time.

This is a list of some typical business drivers:

• Reduce Operating Costs

• Generate Revenue

• Client Satisfaction

• Employee Productivity

This is a list of some typical project business requirements:

• Budget Constraints

• Office Consolidations

• Company Mergers and Acquisitions

• Business Partner Connectivity

• Telecommuter Remote Access

• Implement New Offices and Employees

• New Data Center Applications

• Reduce Network Outage Costs

• Cost Effective Network Management

• Vendor Contracts

STEP 2: DESIGN REQUIREMENTS

Now that you understand the basic business requirements of the company, you can determine the standard and specific design requirements. The design requirements process is focused on defining requirements from a technical perspective. Those requirements along with the business requirements will build the framework that is used to define infrastructure, security and management. Design requirements are defined as standard and miscellaneous. The standard design requirements are generic and represent those considered with many design projects. Miscellaneous requirements are those that aren't defined with any of the standard requirements.

Standard Design Requirements

• Performance

• Availability

• Scalability

• Standards Compatibility

• Rapid Deployment

STEP 3: NETWORK ASSESSMENT

A network assessment is conducted after we have finished the business and design requirements of the company. A network assessment provides a quick snapshot of the current network with an examination of the infrastructure, performance, availability, management and security. That information is utilized for making effective strategy recommendations and design proposals to the client concerning specific information systems modifications. The network assessment model has 3 sequential activities, which are assessment, analysis and recommendations. The current network is examined using five primary surveys: infrastructure, performance, availability, management and security. When the surveys are completed, the information collected is then reviewed for trends, problems and issues that are negatively affecting the network.

STEP 4: INFRASTRUCTURE SELECTION

After doing an network assessment we are ready to start selecting specific infrastructure components for the network design. This phase starts building the infrastructure with a specific sequence that promotes effective equipment selection and design. It is important that you consider business requirements, design requirements and the network assessment when building your infrastructure.

The following numbered list describes the specific infrastructure components and their particular sequence.

1. Enterprise WAN Topology

2. Campus Topology

3. Traffic Model

4. Equipment Selection

5. Circuits

6. Routing Protocol Design

7. Addressing

8. Naming Conventions

9. IOS Services

10. Domain Name Services

11. DHCP Services

STEP 5: SECURITY STRATEGY

We must now define a security strategy for securing the infrastructure. The need for enterprise network security shouldn't be ignored with the proliferation of the Internet. Companies are continuing to leverage the public infrastructure for connecting national and international offices, business partners and new company acquisitions. The security requirements and network assessment recommendations should drive the selection of security equipment, protocols and processes. It identifies what assets must be protected, what users are allowed access and how those assets will be secured.

STEP 6: NETWORK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

This section will define a network management strategy for managing all equipment defined from infrastructure and security. It is necessary to define how the equipment is going to be monitored and determine if the current management strategy is adequate or if new applications, equipment, protocols and processes must be identified. Management components are then integrated with infrastructure and security to finish building the proposed design. These primary elements comprise any well-defined management strategy and should be considered when developing your strategy.

• 7 Management Groups

• SNMP Applications

• Monitored Devices and Events

STEP 7: PROOF OF CONCEPT

All infrastructure, security and management components must now be tested with a proof of concept plan. It is important to test the current design, configuration and IOS versions in a non-production environment or on the production network with limited disruption. Implementation of newer network modules at a router, for instance, could require that you change the current IOS version that is implemented. Making those changes could affect WAN or campus modules already installed at production routers. That is the real value of doing a proof of concept and certifying that the new equipment and IOS versions integrate with each device as well as the network. The following list describes the advantages of doing a proof of concept with your network design. The proof of concept test results should be examined and used to modify current infrastructure, security and management specifications before generating a design proposal. The proof of concept model suggested here involves prototype design, equipment provisioning, defining tests, building equipment scripts and examining test results.

1. Prototype Design

2. Provision Equipment

3. Define Tests

4. Build Equipment Scripts

5. Review Test Results

STEP 8: DESIGN PROPOSAL/REVIEW

With the proof of concept finished, you are now ready to build a design proposal for the design review meeting. Your intended audience could be the Director, CIO, CTO, Senior Network Engineer, Consultant or anyone that is approving a budget for the project. It is important to present your ideas with clarity and professionalism. If a presentation is required, power point slides work well and could be used to support concepts from the design proposal document. The focus is on what comprises a standard design proposal and the sequence for presenting that information.

The working design proposal is presented to the client after addressing any concerns from proof of concept assurance testing. The design review is an opportunity for you to present your design proposal to the client and discuss any issues. It is an opportunity for the client to identify concerns they have and for the design engineer to clarify issues. The focus is to agree on any modifications, if required, and make changes to the infrastructure, security and management before implementation starts. Business and design requirements can change from when the project started which sometimes will necessitate changes to infrastructure, security and management specifications. Any changes should then go through proof of concept testing again before final changes to the design proposal.

STEP 9: IMPLEMENTATION

The final step will have us defining an implementation process for the specified design. This describes a suggested implementation methodology of the proposed design, which should have minimal disruption to the production network. As well it should be efficient and as cost effective as possible. As with previous methodologies there is a sequence that should be utilized as well.

Once the implementation is finished, there is monitoring of the network for any problems. Design and configuration modifications are then made to address any problems or concerns. The Book Network Planning and Design Guide, is available at amazon.com and ebookmall.com

Copyright 2006 Shaun Hummel All Rights Reserved

Network Design Process - Effective Network Planning and Design
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Shaun Hummel is the author of Network Planning and Design Guide and http://www.ciscodesignbooks.com featuring Networking Books, eBooks, Certifications, Articles and Design Tools.

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