Outreach & Networking Plan

outreach_and_networking.md

Outreach & Networking Plan for Module 3

Outreach:

Identify a contact you will reach out to by the end of Module 3. This could be a mentor, alum, anyone from your current network, or a completely cold contact. Describe:

• Why you want to connect with this person and what you hope to talk about
  • I want to get back in touch with Chris Gilstrap from Optiv. He is great with data and analytics, and works in the cyber-security field. I am interested in both subjects and feel like Chris would be an excellent resource for both information and as a contact in the industry.
• When you will contact them by and how you plan to meet
  • Before Turing we had an email conversation going. I reached out to him already, asking to meet up for coffee and catch up. We will be meeting Wednesday 4/18.
• What your follow-up will look like once you've met with them
  • I want to chat with him about the state of big data analysis in the industry, and how cyber-security and data interact. He is involved in data analysis for a cybersecurity firm, and so will have a lot of insight into the areas I am interested in. I also have pursued development in areas that I know he has not, so I can share some of what I have learned with him.

Networking:

Pick 1 option from those listed below where you will spend your energy in Module 3 and answer the questions:

Option #1: If you're going to utilize networking events, look at upcoming networking events on meetup.com, builtin.com, or other social networking sites to make a plan for 1 that you can attend between now and the end of Module 3. Decide:

• Why is this particular event interesting to you? How will you connect with others at this event?
  • I would like to attend denver.rb and denver devs meetups
• What kind of value do you hope to gain? What kind of value can you contribute?
  • I want to start having conversations with people in the industry about how they got to where they are. I feel like I can contribute fresh perspective and my own experiences.
• How will you capitalize on these relationships?
  • By building relationships based on shared knowledge I can create connections who know how much I know. Hopefully these are the kind of people who will think of me when they hear about open positions in the field.