Contact Us
Edinburg: ESTAC 2.101
Email: careercenter@utrgv.edu
Phone: Brownsville (956) 882-5627
Phone: Edinburg (956) 665-2243
Networking
Networking allows you to connect and develop personal relationships with professionals in an industry or position in which you are interested. Networking can help you find mentors, learn how to enter an industry, and discover potential jobs. Your network can include family members, friends, faculty or university staff, co-workers or supervisors, professional association or student organization members, or social media contacts. While networking can seem intimidating, remember that many people like to talk about their career paths and are more than willing to help others.
Connect to Vaqueros
Leverage the power of your network by connecting to employers, alumni, faculty and staff, and your peers to explore career paths, make professional contacts, and tap into the hidden job market. UTRGV students can join VaqueroConnect, the official UTRGV mentoring platform. VaqueroConnect also provides students with career pathways and job opportunities.
Vaquero Connect
Jobs shouldn't be so hard to get. But if you don't know someone or have the right connection, your name's just one more in the pile. Until VaqueroConnect - where you'll find jobs plus people from UTRGV who can help you get in.
Crafting an Elevator Pitch
An easy way to introduce yourself and state your purpose for contacting someone is to craft an elevator pitch. This includes a brief introduction to your academic and professional background, skills, and career goals tailored to the individual to whom you are speaking. Successful elevator pitches are specific and focus on what makes you unique.
Examples:
“Hello, I’m _____. I’m a senior, Marketing major, with a Social Media Marketing Certificate through LinkedIn at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. I have past experience working with the City of Brownsville and various agencies focused in marketing and branding. I’m interested in working in your organization to help increase growth within your company. I notice you have opportunities for expanded digital marketing and brand development.”
“Hello, I’m ____. I’m a first-year, Criminal Justice major at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. I’m interested in exploring opportunities in law enforcement, criminal defense, and cybersecurity through internships. I’m reaching out to learn more about available opportunities in your organization and how my current skills can contribute to available positions and the organization as a whole.”
Preparing Questions
Once you’ve scheduled a time to meet with someone, prepare questions in advance, such as:
- “Can you tell me about your career path and how you joined this organization in your current role?”
- “What do you enjoy/not enjoy about your job?”
- “What do you wish you had known before getting into this field?”
- “What is a typical day like in your position?”
- “What skills, education, or experiences are employers in this field looking for?”
- “How do you see this job changing in the next 5-10 years?”
- “If you could go back and do anything differently on this career path, what would you do?”
- “What advice do you have for a student interested in this field?”
Follow Up
After you meet with or have a networking conversation with someone, be sure to thank them for their time. It’s appropriate to send an email or a handwritten note (and if you have good handwriting, the latter can make a lasting impression). In your follow-up note, be as specific as possible; for example, mentioning particularly helpful advice from your contact or new decisions you’ve made as a result of the meeting.
