Due: Wednesday 9/22 (EOD, 11:59pm)

On your web site, make sure that the following is visible:

• Your debrief and reflection, in the form of 2-3 paragraphs

On the first day of class, you all completed an intake asking you to self-assess career-readiness. The summary of responses is below. For this waypoint, we are going to focus on the Networking aspect. Over the next week, you must:

1. Create a new professional networking connection

2. Debrief the "algorithm" you followed to create this connection

3. Reflect on if or how it impacted your confidence in your ability to network professionally

What is a new professional networking connection?

• While peer connections are undeniably important, for this activity, the connection must be between an MHC student (you or a peer) and someone who is not an MHC student.

• The connection must be new (i.e., the two people cannot already know each other, even minimally).

• The connection must include an interaction (e.g., a conversation in person, over email or phone/zoom).

• It is not required to have contact information exchanged.

Examples that satisfy the requirement:

• You attend a CS lunch and talk with an alum. You may (but do not have to) exchange contact information.

• You introduce a peer to an alum or industry professional that you are already connected to. They interact with each other (via email, chat, etc.). 

• You ask a peer or alum to introduce you to an alum or industry professional.

• You reach out to an alum or industry professional and interact with them.
  If you reach out, but do not hear back (either with an email response or a call/zoom, etc.), this is not an interaction. 

Recall that we discussed the broad definition of an "algorithm" in our first class. "Algorithms" broadly defined could appear outside of a traditional computational setting. When describing algorithms, you should ask:

• What problem is being addressed? 

  • What is the input/output?

• What is the instruction set? 

  • Who is doing the "computing"?

• What resources are constrained/used/optimized?

Write 1-2 paragraphs debriefing your process for making a new networking connection by framing it as an algorithm, using the following prompts as a guide:

1. Can you articulate the "problem" being addressed? Is there an input/output? Can you give examples of desired behavior?

2. For this setting, model yourself as the "computer" -- what is your instruction set? 

3. Describe your algorithm: what step-by-step process did you follow?

4. What is the cost associated with different steps? Is it always fixed or might it change depending on other factors?
   For example, I find small talk to be more "expensive" if I am tired or have a lot on my plate.

Write 1-2 paragraphs reflecting on this activity and how (or if) it impacted your confidence in your ability to network professionally. You may wish to use the following prompts as a guide:

1. What was challenging about the activity? 

2. How did you move through that challenge? What resources were helpful?

3. Do you think your confidence has changed? If so, how and why?

For this waypoint, you should not need to consult any other resources beyond the linked web site. This includes, but is not limited to, AI tools. I'm not sure how they would help you!