CHEVENING APPLICATION: NETWORKING ESSAY TIPS

*Chevening is looking for individuals with strong professional relationship-building skills, who will engage with the Chevening community and influence and lead others in their chosen profession. Please explain how you build and maintain relationships in a professional capacity, using clear examples of how you currently do this, and outline how you hope to use these skills in the future. (minimum word count: 100 words; maximum word count: 500 words)*

Chevening believes in making and maintaining connections. Truthfully, that is the only way to achieve your goals. It is one thing to know what you have set out to achieve. But it is a completely different ball game to manifest it into reality, you will need a strong network of people around who have the know-how or more connections with the know-how on the various aspects of turning your dreams into reality. Afterall, no man can be an island. 

On that premise, I am sure you have networked once or twice in your career or personal endeavors for the furtherance of a set out goal. And those connections have a story behind them, and you have a tale of what you achieved due to banking on and utilizing your network. Well, there you are. now you just write it down.

Start off with your personal views on networking in achieving your dreams. What are your strongest networking skills?. E.g I mentioned my diplomatic skills.

Then mention how you form connections. And if there’s a chain, Chevening wants to know them all, e.g so and so linked me with so and so…

Next? How exactly did you utilize that connection? What were the results?

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Top it up with how you plan on utilizing these skills in the future.

I know it’s just 500 words so pick the strongest story (stories) you have. 

Make sure your networking essay is connected to your leadership essay. 

USE THE STAR APPROACH:

Situation- What was that vision you had, the dream you wanted to realise? 

Task- What was the task to tackle the situation? Did you want to organise a community outreach? Was it to get funds?

Action- How did you leverage on your connections? Or did you already have a person in your network who could help? How did you reach out? 

Results – Now what exactly did you achieve from leveraging on your network to provide a solution for the situation at hand.

And voila! Your networking essay is complete!

CASE IN POINT:

Situation: I wanted to organise a community humanitarian outreach to IDPs

Task: Reach out to IDPs, Get NYSC’s approval, source for funds, source for clothes and food.

Action: My team member knew some people who knew the head of the IDPs, wrote a letter to NYSC, went round to all the major stakeholders in my place of primary assignment to solicit for funds, clothes and food. Pasted an e-flier soliciting for same. Utilized the vehicles and volunteers at my place of primary assignment, etc! Who I knew played more part in making it a success than what I knew.

Result: Reached more than 300 househokds. It was so successful my place of primary assignment requested for more interventions, received NYSC letter of recommendation.

Now that you know the basic foundation of what is expected from you for networking essay, what are you waiting for?

Do you have any more questions? Suggestions? Comments? Please drop them below.

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From Hafsat, With Love.