How To Network Smarter
By Judy Lee ‘17
Networking, love it or not, is undeniably something that will have more and more of a presence in your life. Although a whole other conversation is to be had about the positives versus negatives of it all, here are some tips to network smarter:
Look for specific events
I always hear that you should throw yourself at any given opportunity. However, don’t waste your time at a fair for engineers if you’re a business major. It is a much better investment to go to events that are tailored to what you’re looking for. Don’t know what you’re looking for? Well, that’s where you need to start, then. Do some research on who will be at the booths or will be walking around. Once you get a better sense of wanting to talk to them…
Know what you want
This can only be achieved by research. Do you want an internship? Advice on a project? Want to talk to someone doing something you consider your dream job? Make sure you go into the conversation knowing what you want so you can ask questions that are relevant to the person you’re speaking to. This also makes you seem as if you have focus and passion because you are knowledgeable about what you’re pursuing.
Have the materials you need
Resume, printouts of potential slide decks, business cards—you may need one or more of them. Don’t be caught fumbling for your phone or saying you don’t have what the person is asking you for or it may damage their perception of you. It is better to be embarrassingly over prepared than embarrassingly underprepared. At least when you’re over prepared, the other person will recognize as a sign of tenacity and readiness.
Dress the part
Kind of like what I mentioned above, it’s imperative that you dress the part. They’re right when they say you need to dress like your dream job. Presentation will be your first impression, so it is important that you pay attention to details.
Know when to speak
Don’t be that kid that speaks over someone else when more than one person is speaking to a recruiter. That says volumes about your ability to communicate and work in a crowd. Speak a good amount, but only when there is a clear opportunity to. If you want a more private conversation with the person, make sure you stick around and break off to speak with them one-on-one. If they are in a rush, don’t make them stay. Instead, thank them for their time and ask for their business card/contact information.
Overall, when in doubt, be yourself. It’s better to be genuine than forced. Although it is great to have all of these in mind, sometimes you can blank. When that time comes, it really comes down to how understanding the other person is (which may even indicate if you would have wanted to keep in touch with them anyway!). However, if you can, make sure you have these skills down pat so that when the opportunity arises, you are prepared!
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