Networking Skills

This module helps participants define and strengthen their personal brand ??? their professional reputation ??? using Dorie Clark's Discover, Define, Demonstrate framework. Built around a college-intern development context (a summer internship with about four weeks remaining), the exercises generalize to anyone entering a new team or role. Participants first surface the gap between how they see themselves and how colleagues actually perceive them by trading impressions in small groups, then narrow a brainstormed list of qualities into three specific "brand pillars," and finally attach a concrete, observable behavior to each pillar so the brand is provable rather than just aspirational.

This module reframes networking away from transactional self-promotion and toward genuine curiosity about others. Participants learn the "strength of weak ties" research on why acquaintances (not close friends) drive most career opportunities, then use a Venn Diagram exercise to map their personal passions against academic or career interests and practice connecting them in conversation. The module culminates in a live practice round with alumni, followed by a homework challenge to reach out to someone working at the intersection they found most interesting.