Virtual Career Center

Job Search Strategy: Networking Examples

Sample networking correspondence

Whether sending a paper or electronic letter to a contact, think about the message you want to send and what you are asking for. Write a professional message and check your grammar and spelling before sending. The Alumni Career Center has included examples of networking letters to give you an idea of their structure. It's important to add in your own details and make the letter your own. Take a look at all four of these letters for those pieces that are most applicable to your situation and the letter you are writing.

Networking Letter - Name found through the Alumni Association's Online Directory

Jane Job-Seeker
100 Main Street
Suburb, Illinois 60***
630-111-2222
jane@uicalumni.org

Mike Alumnus
Manager
ABC Corporation
100 Financial District
Big City, IL 60600

Dear Mr. Alumnus:

I recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Business with a major in Marketing and am exploring opportunities in marketing within the financial industry. I found your name through the University of Illinois Alumni Association's Online Directory listing you as a volunteer who is willing to share information about your career (and/or firm).

I was interested in talking with you about your position as a Marketing Manager with Big Financial Company and what it takes to be successful. I would also be interested in hearing your opinion on how your UIC degree in marketing prepared you for your career.

I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you in person and will call you in the next week to set up a time that is convenient for you. I would only need 15-20 minutes of your time. You can also call or email me directly.

Sincerely,
Jane Job-Seeker

Networking Letter - Event Followup

Luke Looking
500 State Street
Small Town, Illinois 60***
217-111-2222
joe@uisalumni.org

Judith Graduate
Manager
XYZ Corporation
100 Financial District
Big City, IL 60600

Dear Judith:

I enjoyed meeting you at last Friday's University of Illinois at Springfield alumni event and appreciated your comments about the field of Healthcare. Along with my recent work experience, I have been reading about the trends in that industry. Our discussion matched up with what I have been hearing from other sources.

I am interested in talking with you more about your career in Healthcare and your work with XYZ. I would also be interested in hearing your opinion on what part of your UIS degree best prepared you for your career and what it takes to be successful in healthcare.

As promised, my resume is attached. I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you in person and will call you in the next week to set up a time that is convenient for you. I would only need 15-20 minutes of your time. You can also call or email me directly.

Sincerely,
Luke Looking

Networking Letter - Referral Followup 1, E-mail

From: Thomas Technick
To: Sam Alumnus, Manager EFG Corporation
Subject: Request for information, referred by Jane Alumna

Dear Sam:

I was recently talking with Jane Alumna, EFG Corporation Associate, about her experiences with EFG Corporation and her career in IT. She suggested I talk with you to get a higher-level perspective of IT.

I recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's College of Engineering with a major in Computer Science. I am exploring opportunities in IT consulting with the goal of further developing my skills.

I am interested in talking with you more about your position as a Chief Technology Officer with EFG and what it takes to be successful.

I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with you in person and will call you in the next week to set up a time that is convenient for you. I would only need 15-20 minutes of your time. You can also call or email me directly.

Sincerely,
Thomas Technick
314 Pie Circle
Capital, IL 60***
217-333-5555
ttech@illinoisalumni.org

Networking Letter - Referral Followup 2

Edward Experienced
123 Main
Home Town, Illinois 60***
708-556-8585
edward@uicalumni.org

Evelyn Expert
Consulting LLC
200 High Rise Way
Down Town, IL 60600

Dear Evelyn:

I recently spoke with Ernest Ontherise about his work in consulting and he suggested that I talk with you for an expert's view on the field. I am interested in talking with you more about your career, the trends you've seen and the trends you see evolving. Specifically, I would like to hear more on the topic you introduced in the Consulting Today article, "Trends in Consulting: where we've been and where we are going."

With eight years experience in consulting, I have developed a solid foundation of analytical and organizational skills needed to identify and solve business problems. I am considering several areas in which to build my skills and focus my experience including your area of expertise. I am interested in the specific problems you have focused on in your career and believe several of my recent projects lend themselves to this area.

I look forward to talking with you in person and will call you in the next week to set up a time that is convenient for you. I would only need 15-20 minutes of your time. You can also call or email me directly.

Sincerely,
Edward Experienced

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