• Try “portfolio”, “ink”, “branding” or a code like “PRS 101”.

PRS 240Professional Identity and Online Presence

Professional Networking for Creatives

Build genuine professional relationships: introductions, events, informational conversations, follow-ups and keeping in touch without being pushy.

Planned

About this course

Networking works when it is ordinary professional courtesy done consistently. This course covers mapping the people already around you, introducing yourself in person and online, requesting and running informational conversations, getting value from events and portfolio reviews, and a simple system for keeping in touch. It includes approaches for people who find networking draining, and for students outside large cities.

Who it’s for: Creatives at any stage who want more professional contacts in their field, including introverts and people new to an industry. A headline and short bio help (see Building Your Artist Identity and Writing Your Professional Biography).

You will be able to

  • Map your existing network and identify gaps relevant to your goals
  • Introduce yourself clearly in person and in writing
  • Request, prepare for and run an informational conversation
  • Follow up and keep in touch using a simple contact system

Studio project

A network map, a working contact tracker and a documented four-week sprint including two informational conversations and follow-ups.

To complete this course

  • Complete every required lesson.
  • Have the assignment “Four-week networking sprint” accepted by an instructor.
  • Records of completion are issued only for courses whose content has passed instructor review.

Part of

Syllabus

Working titles: they may change as the course is written.

  1. Module 1: Your existing network

    You know more people than you think.

    1. 1.1The network mapExercise · 30 min
    2. 1.2Finding the gapsReading · 20 min

  2. Module 2: Introducing yourself

    Short, specific and easy to respond to.

    1. 2.1The spoken introductionExercise · 25 min
    2. 2.2Written introductions and warm introsExercise · 30 min

  3. Module 3: Informational conversations

    Learn how a field works from people in it.

    1. 3.1Asking for a conversationExercise · 25 min
    2. 3.2Running the conversationReading · 25 min
    3. 3.3Portfolio reviews and eventsReading · 25 min

  4. Module 4: Keeping in touch

    The follow-up is the networking.

    1. 4.1Follow-up messagesExercise · 20 min
    2. 4.2A simple contact systemExercise · 25 min
    3. 4.3Giving backReading · 15 min

Author: Ricketts University curriculum team (draft for founder review) · Not yet reviewed

Related courses

  1. PRS 100

    The Complete Creative Professional

    The school's flagship introduction: turn 'I make things' into a professional practice that people can find, understand and trust, with a clear identity, an honest ten-piece portfolio, a deliberate online presence and a plan to sustain it.Professional Identity and Online Presence    Foundation24 lessons · ~26 hAvailable
  2. PRS 101

    Building Your Artist Identity

    Decide what you make, for whom and why, then turn it into a one-line headline, a working name and a handle you can use everywhere.Professional Identity and Online Presence    Foundation11 lessons · ~6 hIn development
  3. PRS 102

    Becoming a Professional Creative

    The habits that make people want to work with you again: reliability, file hygiene, feedback, deadlines, ethics and responsible tool use.Professional Identity and Online Presence    Foundation13 lessons · ~8 hPlanned
Back to the full catalogue