Networking: Collective Exercise

Practising with peers helps you build confidence before real networking situations. Use this session to try out your introduction, test your questions, and write a follow-up message with support from the group.

Learning Objectives

Our goal is to collectively do the following:

• Identify the difference between asking for a job and asking for advice
• Draft a short personal introduction suitable for a networking conversation
• Write 2–3 questions to use in a networking conversation
• Reach out to at least one person in your network or the CYF community
• Write a follow-up message after a networking conversation

Set-Up

• Split up into pairs or groups of no more than 3
• Set a whole class timer for 20 minutes

Instructions

1. Each person drafts a short introduction (who you are, what you’re learning, what role you’re interested in).
2. In pairs, practice your introductions with each other.
3. Ask each other 2–3 networking questions and practice listening and responding naturally.
4. Write a short follow-up message as if you had just met this person at an event.
5. Share your follow-up messages with the group and discuss: does it feel natural? Is there anything you would change?