Network and Apply

Jindal School student and career coach at a UT Dallas networking event

Building a professional network opens doors to new opportunities and makes your job applications more noticeable compared to the competition.

Getting Started on LinkedIn and Building a Professional Network

An informational interview is a short meeting (target the discussion to 15-30 minutes) to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or a company on your “Target Company List”.

Get Started with Informational Interviews

Small Talk is an essential element of successful networking. It can be thought of as a preliminary stage before delving into more substantial conversations such as informational or job interviews.

Getting Started with Small Talk

Find employer information, apply for internships, attend a professional development workshop, and more.

If it sounds too good to be true and/or you suspect a scam, contact the Career Management Center.

Protect Yourself Online

Career Expo Success

Career Expos allow students to meet recruiters and hiring managers in person or virtually. The following videos will help you prepare to make the most of these special events. Log in with your UTD NetID and Password:
Career Expo Videos

If you need more help – achieve your goals with the definitive Career Expo preparation guide! This comprehensive, step-by-step plan will guide you through every aspect of getting ready for a career expo, while offering personalized support from our career development specialists to keep you on course. Log in with your UTD NetID and Password:
Career Expo Success Guide

See below additional resources to help you prepare to make the most of these special events. (Sign in with UTD email and password). If you need help acquiring professional attire, please take advantage of the Comet Closet, a free resource for JSOM students.

FAQs – Networking

Wait two weeks and contact again. If after that the person still doesn’t respond, move on to another contact. Be patient for a response and be professional in all correspondence for best results.

On average, every corporate job opening attracts 250 applicants. Since this is an average, it must also be true that for some jobs, there will be more that 250 applicants. Networking can help you to get singled out of the applicant pack to get invited to an interview. Networking is essential in the job hunt. It seems complicated, but really it means talking to others about your job search and career goals. You are not networking to ask for a job. Networking helps you learn information about jobs that are being created, jobs that are “hidden” because they never get posted, and jobs that may not be currently open but will be posted in the future.

Make a list of people who might be able to help answer your job search questions: Friends, family, neighbors, community group members, classmates, teachers, professors, advisors, coaches, alumni plus referrals from other contacts. Start talking to them. Remember you are not asking for a job, you are gathering information about businesses, industries, events, advice, share ideas, and referrals.

A good place to start is LinkedIn groups, local Meetups (meetup.com), events sponsored by professional associations or chamber of commerce, conferences, alumni association meetings, and Handshake.

FAQs – Applying for Jobs

Research industry trends, check UTD program website for salary information, LaunchMyCareertx.org, Glassdoor.com, Indeed.com/salary, PayScale.com, Salary.com, BLS.gov. Use these resources to determine a salary range to put in the application.

For job applications, focus on quality not quantity. Tailor every resume and cover letter in your application process. Study the job description and make sure you are applying for jobs where you match the experience the company is seeking. Use the job description to highlight specific skills that are listed. Lastly, either start networking or ramp up your networking as it is often the key to getting past the application to the interview invitation.

Application timelines vary by industry. Many Fortune 500 companies recruit at least one semester in advance for internships and/or full-time positions. Fall tends to be the peak recruiting time for the following summer. It is important to stay connected with your degree program and the JSOM CMC to stay updated. We also recommend frequently checking Handshake for updates about employer events, CMC workshops and internship/job opportunities.

The steps to increase your Handshake visibility include completing your profile to 100%; uploading a JSOM CMC formatted resume; ensuring your degree, GPA, work authorization and graduate date are accurate; setting your privacy setting to community or employers. We recommend selecting the community setting for the best user experience for Handshake Virtual Career Fairs.

Network and Apply