With the looming threat of graduation and “The Real World,” I’ve slipped into proactive mode. Remember fight or flight response we learned in 5th grade Health? Well, it’s definitely real.
In a few short months, I will embark into “The Real World” armed with a degree in Public Relations and several internships under my belt. It’s terrifying and exciting all at the same time. I know from talking with people on Twitter that a lot of you are also graduating from college or are going to in the near future. We can all commiserate about job applications!
Networking is a vital skill for most, if not all, job fields in some way. Surrounded by computers, smart phones & now tablets all day, interpersonal communication has really taken a back seat in importance. I know as a communication nerd I’m rather biased but I truly believe a face-to-face conversation is worth way more than an email exchange.
If your school has a networking event with alums or prospective employers, run to sign up for it! Even if you’re ho-hum about going because you’re exhausted from a long day at work or you’re stressed about that midterm exam tomorrow, networking events are an excellent opportunity to hone your communication skills.
Okay, you’ve signed up for the event & completed the first step! Great, you can already cross one thing off your Networking Checklist.
1. Business Cards
Every graduating college senior should have a stack of business cards with them and ready to go. At events or even when a guest speaker comes to class, it shows you’re already thinking about your future and connecting with people. I’ve used Vista Print for my business cards and I can’t say enough nice things about them. They have a large variety of business card designs and templates to use so you will definitely find a card to fit your personal brand (I get a little too excited when talking about personal branding!). Vista Print is also priced very affordably, which is great for us college students!
2. Do Your Homework
If there is a guest list of who will be attending, put your Google skills to use and do your homework on them. LinkedIn is a great resource to see people’s backgrounds and get a sense of what questions you should ask them. It’s always better to be over-prepared than frantically wracking your brain when they ask you if you have any questions for them. I hope you wouldn’t go into an exam without opening the textbook and skimming the chapters at the very least! Well, treat networking just like that. At any rate, you should keep a list of go-to questions in your arsenal to prevent a lull in the conversation.
3. Perfect Your Elevator Pitch
If you were in an elevator with someone and you realized they are the CEO of your favorite company, a celebrity in your industry, etc. you have about 30 seconds tops to leave a good impression on them. Hence why you should work on your elevator pitch. In 30 seconds, introduce yourself and give a little background of yourself and, in short, answer the question as to why this person should engage in a conversation with you and how will this benefit them? While it’s nice to think that some people want to chat with college students out of the goodness of their hearts, it’s not entirely true. They are looking for entry level employees and you can either make it or break it with your elevator pitch. Remember, like resumes & cover letters, you should have multiple elevator pitches tailored to your specific skills sets.
For example, in some elevator pitches, I focus on my blog while in others, I identify my background by my internship.
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Most importantly, you should remember to smile & make eye contact!! A smile and eye contact show your confidence and puts the other person at ease. Also, do not forget a polite, but firm handshake. I swear, there is really nothing worse than a weak handshake, I am so grateful my father would make me practice handshakes as a child. Thanks, Daddy!
Normally, I would get on my soapbox to discuss dress code and how to dress for success. However, I am plain exhausted after a very long day so that will have to wait for another day!
Do you have any tips for networking? Please share!
When it comes to networking, don’t show up with a huge group of gal pals/friends. Either come solo or with one friend, tops. It’s too tricky to work the room in a huge group. But bringing a friend along is a great way to calm any nerves you may have 🙂
This is such a great post! LOVE it!
Thank you, I’m glad you liked it! I’m thinking of making this into a series of posts about various tips on navigating the career/internship path. What do you think?
I think that is a great idea!
Love it–especially the Elevator Pitch tip!
There is so much more info out there about landing that first job than there was say, 20 years ago. I knew nothing about internships, business cards or networking. These are vital skills and tips to know. I am still trying to perfect them even now.