Professional Networking & Mentorship

Teach learners to build and maintain professional relationships that compound career opportunity while remaining ethical and generous. The module demystifies LinkedIn, warm introductions, informational interviews and the mentor-sponsor distinction. Learners practise concise asks, reciprocity habits and personal-brand craft so networking becomes a sustainable, low-stress discipline.

Learning Outcomes

Write a LinkedIn headline and About section that signal value to a target audience.

Request and conduct an informational interview that respects the hosts time.

Craft a 30-second elevator pitch tailored to a specific listener.

Secure warm introductions using double opt-in etiquette.

Explain the weak-tie hypothesis and apply it to opportunity search.

Distinguish mentorship from sponsorship and ask for each appropriately.

Maintain a lightweight CRM of contacts with reciprocity habits.

Prepare and brief references so they advocate effectively.

Topics Covered

LinkedIn profile craft

Warm introductions and double opt-in

Informational interviews

Coffee chats

Weak ties and Granovetter

Elevator pitch

Portfolio and public work

References and advocates

Reciprocity and generosity

Personal brand online

Mentor vs sponsor

Specific vs vague asks

Networking events and follow-ups

Communities of practice

Alumni networks

Skills Developed

Pitching Written outreach Active listening Follow-up discipline Personal CRM Public writing Relationship mapping Mentor engagement

Suggested Resources

{'title': 'Never Eat Alone', 'author': 'Keith Ferrazzi', 'source': 'Currency, 2014 revision'}

{'title': 'Give and Take', 'author': 'Adam Grant', 'source': 'Viking, 2013'}

{'title': 'The Strength of Weak Ties', 'author': 'Mark Granovetter', 'source': 'American Journal of Sociology, 1973'}

{'title': 'The 2-Hour Job Search', 'author': 'Steve Dalton', 'source': 'Ten Speed, 2020'}

{'title': 'Forget a Mentor, Find a Sponsor', 'author': 'Sylvia Ann Hewlett', 'source': 'HBR Press, 2013'}

{'title': 'Show Your Work', 'author': 'Austin Kleon', 'source': 'Workman, 2014'}

{'title': 'LinkedIn Learning: Networking foundations', 'author': 'LinkedIn', 'source': 'linkedin.com/learning'}

Assessment

Mix of applied networking artefacts and knowledge checks.

MCQ quiz25%

LinkedIn profile audit25%

Informational interview log (3)25%

Elevator pitch recording25%

Practice bank: 200 MCQs · Timed mock & self-paced modes

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