Networking 101 for Government, Policy & Social Impact Careers

Connecting with others to glean professional insights is often considered “creepy” or “nepo-baby.” But in the policy realm, it’s how you learn about organizations and opportunities. So, get over any qualms you have – everyone is doing it! Here’s how to get started.

Reflect on what motivates you. What do you care about? Being able to articulate this is the most important step – because connecting with people who share your values and interests is mutually beneficial. Once you appreciate this, making the ask is much easier! It’s not about you – it’s about the issue that you both care about. Examples include: voting rights, education, national security, immigrant rights, public health.

Decide what you want to learn. There may be a lot of things you want to learn about, but for the purposes of any one outreach, you need to focus. Here are some examples of questions you might have:

  • Do I need a law degree to work in policy?
  • What jobs are there that would leverage my language skills?
  • Do I have to work in a nonprofit to affect change on social justice issues?

Figure out who (1) shares your interests and (2) might have answers to your questions. Visit the WashU page on LinkedIn and click on the “alumni” tab. You can then search by keyword, or filter by location or major. This is a generous community who is most likely to respond to your outreach! You can join the WashU Government and Policy Network and search WashU CNX as well. Also, ask your parents, friends, career advisors and professors who might know people in this field. And perhaps, most importantly, your peers are also great resources. Seek out students in your major who are a year or two ahead of you and ask them what they’ve done and what they’re thinking about doing.

Craft a short message to them to send via LinkedIn, CNX or email. Do not ask for a connection without a note explaining why! Once they have accepted the connection, you will have their email and can follow up with a request for a chat.

Here’s an example LinkedIn connection request:

I’m a current WashU student with an interest in sustainability and data science. Your path is interesting! Hoping we can connect. ~Earnest Environmentalist

Here’s what a follow-up email might look like:

Thanks for accepting my connection request! I’d love to learn more about your career path and how you decided law school was the right fit after working on the Hill. I’m generally available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 4-6pm CT and Fridays after noon. If there’s a time in the coming weeks that works for you, please let me know and I’ll send you a calendar invite and zoom link! Thanks in advance for considering it. ~Possible PreLaw

Prepare for the meeting by owning the logistics and doing your homework. Send a calendar invite that includes a link to either your virtual or physical meeting destination. If you’re talking on the phone, get their number and initiate the call. Then, come up with questions that aren’t easily answered by websites or AI.  Write them down and bring them to the meeting; it demonstrates that you intend to make the most of their time. Here are some examples:

  • What type of experience or coursework is necessary for an entry level position?
  • What other organizations do work similar to yours? Who are your collaborators?
  • What news sources or experts do you follow to keep up with the field?
  • What courses or experiences would you seek if you were a student right now? Why?
  • How did your prior internships or school experiences prepare you for your work?
  • How is the field changing and what is staying the same?
  • Would you be willing to take a look at my target list? What organizations am I missing?

Be on time to the meeting, be curious and be mindful of the time you are taking out of their day. If it’s a phone or zoom call, 20 minutes is an appropriate length of time. If it’s in person, 30-40 minutes is acceptable. Whatever amount of time you asked for initially, stick to it and give your contact the opportunity to break. End the conversation by expressing your gratitude, mentioning a few things you learned or that you plan to follow up on, and ask if they have any last recommendations for you. Do not expect them to offer you anything. Contacts are currency and they just gave you some of their valuable time. It is quite possible they will offer to connect you to others, but don’t expect it. Also, this is just the beginning…

Pro Tip: Do not expect your connection to offer to flag your application or introduce you to their network. The may offer – but asking is not cool.

Stay in touch.  After your conversation, send a thank you email that demonstrates that you valued their time and insights. Then, add them to your spreadsheet of contacts along with a few things you took away from the conversation. Don’t be afraid to re-engage them on occasion when it’s appropriate. You don’t need to send an email every three months, but if the conversation went well, letting them know if you landed an internship you discussed or that you took some advice and joined a student group is a great way to stay connected. These relationships often lead to opportunities and additional connections in unpredictable ways

Keep it going and pay it forward! Once you’ve done a few informational interviews, you’ll gain momentum. Follow up with leads and those to whom you’ve been introduced to through the process. And, don’t forget to accept others’ invitations! This is why the WashU network is so amazing. The people who have been helped by it are eager to be helpful in return. So, pass it on – doing so is both the right thing to do and keeps you connected and relevant in the community. It is mutually beneficial.