Facilitation Script Guide

Pre-Session

Setup Checklist

Internal — Do not say aloud

Open Google Slide Deck in Presenter View
Have both Google Forms ready in separate tabs
Test screen sharing
Have Network Mapping Sheet link ready
Set up 3 breakout rooms
Enable Zoom chat

Slides 1–3 · Opening

Welcome & Community Agreements

Stage direction — As people join, play music or display title slide. Do not begin until start time. Wait for the hour to begin, then start speaking.

"Good morning everyone! Welcome, welcome, welcome! Let me get my camera on here... there we go. Can everyone see me okay? Great! Welcome to Session 4 of our Social Capital Curriculum. I'm so glad you're all here today. Before we dive in, I just want to say thank you for continuing to show up week after week. The work you're doing here, learning how to build and leverage your professional network — this is powerful stuff. And I'm really excited about what we're covering today. So let's get started!"

"Before we jump into the content, let's take a moment to review our Community Agreements. These are the guidelines that help us create a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment together. [Read agreements 1–12 aloud] Now, I'd like to ask you all: Which agreement do you think we've modeled really well this week? Just take a moment to think about that. [Pause 5 seconds] Anyone want to share in the chat? Which of these agreements have you seen us doing really well as a group? [Wait for 2–3 chat responses — read them aloud] Great! I saw someone say we've been really good at listening — yes, absolutely. And someone else mentioned being present. Love that. These are the things that make our sessions so valuable. Alright, let's move forward!"

Slide 4 · Agenda

Session Overview

"So what are we covering today? Let me walk you through our agenda. First — Assignment Review. We'll check in on what you learned from your homework about transferable skills from hobbies. Second — Hidden LinkedIn Tools. Features most people don't know about that can change your job search game. Third — Kick the Tires. You'll actually get to experiment with these tools in breakout rooms. And fourth — Whole Group Discussion on referrals and how to make the ask. This is going to be a packed session, but I promise everything we're covering today is super practical. You're going to walk away with actual tools you can use right away in your job search. Sound good? Let's go!"

Slides 5–6 · Homework Review

Transferable Skills — Chat Activity

"Here's what I want you to do: In the Zoom chat, paste your answer to this question — it was actually your homework assignment from last week. In 3 to 5 sentences, describe one transferable skill you have from a hobby you do outside of work. Think about something you do for fun — maybe you knit, maybe you play basketball, maybe you garden, maybe you cook. What skill does that hobby give you that you could use in a professional setting? Go ahead and type that into the chat right now. I'm going to give you about two minutes. [Wait 2 minutes. Read through responses as they come in. Call out interesting ones.] Oh, I love this one — someone said they do woodworking and it taught them patience and attention to detail. That's a great transferable skill! And someone else mentioned running marathons teaches discipline and goal-setting. Absolutely! These are fantastic. I hope this exercise helped you realize that you bring value from ALL parts of your life, not just your work experience. Alright, let's keep moving!"

Slides 7–20 · Core Content

Part 1: Five Hidden LinkedIn Tools

5

Tools Covered

Free

All Tools

10 min

Breakout Practice

"Here's the thing: It is common knowledge that LinkedIn is a media platform. Over the next several weeks, we are going to continue working through LinkedIn and posting strategies. But today — today we are going to look at some hidden tools you can use to maximize your job search experience using the platform. Remember, a big part of mobilizing Social Capital is showcasing your skill set and being at the right place at the right time. And that includes digitally. You need to be visible. You need to be strategic. Let's dive in!"

Tool 1 — Message Anyone on LinkedIn (Free)

If you're part of the same LinkedIn group as someone, you can directly message any group member — including third-degree connections — at no cost.

Join groups in your field, school, or target companies
Find members list → blue "Message" button appears for all members
No Premium required

Tool 2 — People Tab on Company Pages

Navigate to any company's LinkedIn page → "People" tab. Filter by location, department, and school to identify targeted contacts. Cross-reference with groups for free messaging access.

Tool 3 — "I'm Interested" Feature

On select company pages → "About" tab → scroll past Overview → click "I'm Interested." Privately shares your profile with recruiters for up to one year. Not available on every page — use when available.

Tool 4 — Career Explorer

Navigate to Career Explorer → filter by location → enter your current or target role → sort popularity high to low. Reveals common career transitions, skill gaps, and job title optimization opportunities for your LinkedIn profile.

Tool 5 — LinkedIn Learning (Free via Library Card)

Navigate to linkedin.com/learning/login → "Sign in with your library card" → enter library ID and PIN. Full access to LinkedIn Learning at no cost. Certificates can be added directly to LinkedIn profile.

Slides 21–22 · Activity

Breakout Room 1 — Kick the Tires (10 min)

Facilitator note — Assign random groups. Pop into rooms briefly to check engagement. Use timer in Zoom.

"Alright everyone, we're about to transition into an activity. Here's what's going to happen: We're going to use Breakout Rooms. You'll be in random groups. You have 10 minutes. Here's what I want you to do: Experiment with each tool — actually pull up LinkedIn on your computer or phone and try them out. Join a group. Look at a company's People tab. Find the 'I'm Interested' button. Play around with Career Explorer. Then, in your small group, discuss: — Which tool or tools are you most excited about using? Why? — Have you heard of or used any of these before today? — What is the first thing you'll update on your LinkedIn after learning these? I'll be popping in to check on you. You have 10 minutes. Make the most of it!"

[After bringing everyone back] "Welcome back, everyone! Let's take a few minutes to debrief. Can I get one or two people to share: Which tool are you most excited about using, and why? [Call on 1–2 learners — approx. 1 minute each] Great! Thank you for sharing that. I love hearing how you're thinking about applying these tools to your own job search. Alright, we're going to take a quick 10-minute break. When we come back, we're going to talk about referrals and how to actually make the ask. Stretch, grab some water — I'll see you back in 10!"

Slides 24–35 · Part 2

Referrals & Making the Ask

70%

Hired via connection (LinkedIn, 2016)

46%

Found last job via referral

3

Interactions before referral

"I want to start by sharing some data, because I think it's going to help you understand why this topic is so important. 70% of people in 2016 were hired at a company where they had a connection. Let that sink in for a second. 70%. And 46% of job seekers found their last job through a referral. Almost half! So if you're sitting there thinking, 'I'm just going to keep applying online and hope for the best' — I want you to pause and reconsider. The data is clear: Referrals work. Connections work. Relationships work."

"Now, here's something really important to understand. Three interactions typically must occur before a referral is made. Three. That means you can't just reach out to someone once and immediately ask them to refer you. You have to build trust first. Build a relationship first. Show up consistently. Maybe the first interaction is a LinkedIn message where you introduce yourself. The second is a coffee chat or Zoom call. And the third is where you stay in touch — you share an article, you check in a few weeks later. By the time you've had three meaningful interactions, that person is much more likely to refer you — because now they know you. They trust you. They've seen that you're serious."

5 Tips to Make the Ask

Choose the Right Person — strategic, not random. Who has influence and a real relationship with you?
Be Specific — name the role, explain why you're a fit, explain why you're reaching out to them
Make It Easy — send your resume, the job posting, a short summary. Reduce their effort to near zero
Respect Their Time — be patient. Don't follow up five times in two days
Follow Up Either Way — thank-you note regardless of outcome. Relationships are long-term

"The onus of getting a job referral is on the opportunity seeker. That means you. That means it's your responsibility to do the work. That work looks like three things: Do your research. Know your pitch. And make the ask. You actually have to ask. You can't just hint around it. Be direct, professional, and respectful — but ask. Most people want to help. Most people are happy to make an introduction if you make it easy for them. So let's talk about how to do that."

Slides 29–36 · Framework

Planning Outreach — The 5 W's

Before You Send Anything — Answer These 5 Questions

Who? Is this person a peer or a bridge? Get clear on how they fit in your network before you reach out.
What? What is your desired outcome? Advice? Referral? Introduction? Be specific — not "pick your brain."
Why? Why this specific person? Why will this conversation move your career forward? Say it in your message.
When? Offer 1–3 specific times within the next 14 days. Let them choose. Don't say "let me know when you're free."
Where? In-person, phone, or Zoom? Suggest a specific location or offer to send the link. Reduce friction.

Outreach Message — 7 Components

Greeting and salutation
Remind them who you are + reference something specific from your last interaction
Make the ask to connect
Explain what you want to discuss and how it helps your career
Share your desired outcomes
Attach professional documents if appropriate
Include Calendly link or specific available times

Relationship Nurturing Timeline

Before first meeting — Update resume and LinkedIn
Within 24 hours — Send thank-you note (non-negotiable)
1–2 weeks — Follow up for coffee chat or update on job search
3–4 weeks — Second meeting; continue search; stay in touch
~2 months — Multiple interactions completed; appropriate time to make the ask
Ongoing — Nurture the relationship. Check in every few months.

Slides 37–38 · Activity

Breakout Room 2 — Drafting Outreach (20 min)

Facilitator note — 3 groups, 3 scenarios. Groups choose their scenario. 5 min individual planning, 9 min group discussion, 2 min debrief per group. Assign one spokesperson per group before sending to rooms.

Scenario 1 — Reconnecting

You've been reaching out on LinkedIn but not getting responses. Meanwhile, you see companies you're interested in are doing massive layoffs. Draft a 5–8 sentence LinkedIn post expressing empathy for those impacted — while highlighting your skills and making an appropriate ask of your network.

Scenario 2 — Natural Disaster

It's been 3 months since you connected with a professional from a virtual networking event. You come across news about a natural disaster in their area. Is it appropriate to reach out? If yes, draft a 5–8 sentence note with an appropriate ask at the end. If no, explain why.

Scenario 3 — Referral Thank You

You were referred to a job and were hired today by a professional you met at a virtual networking event. Draft a thank-you note including: a genuine message of thanks, where you were working, how long you were job searching, what you did to grow your skills and network, and a proposed catch-up in 1–2 months.

[After bringing everyone back — each group presents ~2 minutes] "Excellent work, everyone. I love hearing how you're thinking through these real-world scenarios. This is exactly the kind of strategic thinking you need when you're building your network and asking for help. Before we wrap up, I want you to take 5 minutes to complete a quick survey — this helps us understand what's working and what we can improve. [Drop Google Form link in Zoom chat]"

Slide 40 · Closing

Session Close & Homework

"Alright, everyone — that's a wrap! Thank you so much for showing up today. Thank you for engaging. Thank you for doing the work. I know this stuff can feel overwhelming sometimes. But I promise you, if you implement even just one or two of the tools we talked about today, you're going to see a difference in your job search. Here's your homework for next week: One — Pick at least one LinkedIn tool and actually use it. Join a group. Explore the People tab. Try Career Explorer. Whatever feels most relevant — do it. Two — Draft one outreach message. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just practice. Get comfortable with making the ask. Three — Keep showing up. Keep building your network. Keep putting yourself out there. You've got this. I'll see you all next week. Have a great rest of your day!"

Climb Hire — Social Capital Curriculum