Flatiron School Placements team shares the advice they give our web and iOS students on networking. So far 99% of Flatiron School students land jobs after graduating.

1. NETWORKING!

2. PEOPLE get jobs from PEOPLE.
98% of job-seeking grads have gotten jobs.
1 found his job by applying online.

3. BUILD PIPELINE
THIS IS A SALES PROCESS.
Connect
Identify
Meet
Follow up

4. PLACES TO FIND THE HUMANS
LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN TECH.
PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Friends, family, former colleagues.
PEOPLE WHO KNOW PEOPLE YOU KNOW
Friends, family, former colleagues of ^
PEOPLE YOU MEET
Meetups. Job fairs. Dinner parties. Parks.
PEOPLE YOU STALK AND BECOME FRIENDS WITH
“I’m from the internet!”

5. PEOPLE YOU KNOW
PEOPLE WHO KNOW
PEOPLE YOU KNOW
PEOPLE YOU MEET
PEOPLE YOU STALK AND BECOME FRIENDS WITH
The more you practice, the smarter you sound!

6. I FOUND A HUMAN!
WAYS TO NETWORK:
CAREER CHAT
“I’d love to hear what it’s like to be a developer at a company
like X”
PROJECT TALK
“Your X is really interesting - I’d absolutely love to hear more
about how you Y’d it.”
MEETUP PRESENTATION FOLLOW-UP
“It was awesome to hear you speak about Tech Thing A at Place
B. Would you be up for a coffee to discuss it a bit more?
!

7. Your goal with this communication is to schedule a
phone or an in-person meeting. That’s it.

8. BAD EXAMPLE E-MAIL:
Jason,
!
I enjoyed speaking with you at the Flatiron Science Fair yesterday. I'd love to find
out more about your team and to tell you more about myself.
!
Please let me know if there is mutual interest.
!
Thanks
Cynthia

9. BAD EXAMPLE E-MAIL:
Jason,
Hello. My name is Cynthia Dressler.
!
I looked through the information on your website and am very interested in the
non-CS training program. I noticed the 2014 Software Engineer posting on your job
website which also peaked my interest. Is this related to the training program?
!
I would be interested to meet with you and Erik at some point.
!
Thank you
Cynthia

10. GREAT INITIAL E-MAIL:
Hi Jason,
!
It was great to meet you at our science fair lastThursday. I wanted to thank you
for your enthusiasm for my karaoke app, and let you know that I had a great
time talking with you about your dream music apps.
!
I'm in school through the end of next week, but would love to meet and talk
sometime soon. Do you have any time late next week? I'd love to hear what
you are most excited about regarding the future of blinky, and to get your
perspective on what it is like to work at such a fast growing company.
!
Thanks again for coming out to the science fair. Looking forward to speaking
more!
!
Cynthia

11. 1. Be prepared. Come with a lot of
questions.
I GOT THE MEETING
AWESOME.
2. Know your value. You can offer
something in exchange.
3. Provide value. If that’s you as a
developer, awesome. If not, ok.

12. NEXT STEPS
HOW TO FOLLOW UP
THANK & REVIEW
“Great to talk to you about A, B, C - your insight on C’ was
really helpful in X way.”
PROVIDE VALUE
“We’re having a meet up at Flatiron on Thursday on the Gem
you’re using. Here’s the RSVP!”
MAKE AN ASK
“You’d mentioned your friend at P Corp might be up for a chat -
would you be comfortable making the intro? Thank you for
thinking of it.”

13. FINAL THOUGHTS
HOW TO FOLLOW UP
THIS IS STRESSFUL
It’s ok to be a little bit freaked out.
…BUT IT’S STILL A TEAM SPORT
Your career is a marathon - and you’re a Flatiron
grad forever. Work hard and be nice.
SLOW & STEADY
Invest in 2-4 conversations at once. Really invest.
!

14. IDEAS?
QUESTIONS?