Over the past two weeks, the UVM Alumni Association hosted networking events in New York, Boston and DC.

If you couldn’t attend or don’t live in one of those areas, fear not. This week I’m bringing the alumni networking to you.

I checked in with Emma Grady ’08 who volunteered at the networking event in New York City where she lives and works. As a frequent alumni volunteer, she’s a pro at the most effective networking approaches. Check out her advice below.

Ryan: What are some things young grads did well at the most recent networking event?

Emma: Showing up. The fact that so many students and recent graduates came out eager to network and kick off their careers is a great sign.

R: What are some things they could have improved upon?

E: Overall, I think you get out of these events what you put in. So my suggestion would be to take advantage of the volunteer networkers who are offering to help by following up and staying in touch after the event is over. The event is a jumping off point, and building real connections happens over time.

R: What advice do you have for recent graduates on talking to folks like yourself at these types of events and in their networking pursuits?

E: I think it’s important to prepare questions and ask your most important question first. There is limited time to speak with everyone and you might not have time to ask a follow up question. The first question I am most often asked is how I got to my current position. There is no short answer, and everyone’s path is unique, so it might be more valuable for recent graduates to first ask for advice on how they might pursue a similar career path than to hear about the various jobs I’ve had.

R: Any other advice related to networking and job searching for the most recent UVM alumni?

E: Be specific when asking for help. I think it can be challenging to know where to start but if you isolate next steps and priorities it will help guide you when reaching out to contacts–from asking for an informational interview to requesting help editing a resume. If you’re specific about what you need, there’s a better chance you’ll get it.

P.S. Emma was recently featured in a Vermont Quarterly article about 10 UVM alums succeeding in the Big Apple. (You can check out the article here.)