8 a structure of explaining your background experience, summarizing the skills you gained from those experiences, and, most importantly, describing why that matters to that employer or connection. Don’t waste the first impression. One of the most common networking mistakes students make is being mindful of how important a first impression is. Bad grammar, lack of effort, and inability to talk about one’s achievements bode a positive first impression. It’s a cliche but put your best foot forward every single time. Don’t just small talk. When networking, students need to be strategic and direct without being cocky. Instead of just making general small talk, add a personal element to it. They don’t need to exchange life stories with potential employers or professional connections, but they need to be able to make a human connection. Remember what the other person tells you because that will never hurt their image of you. Don’t worry too much. Students who are already out there networking, are ahead of the game. If they are actively thinking about networking, getting a job and being successful will come easier because they are putting themselves out there in a way that will be advantageous in the future. tively think before starting to respond. That ability to reflect and deliver well-deliberated answers can boost their confidence. Don’t hesitate to follow up. It’s appropriate to follow up nine times out of ten because if you don’t reach out and other candidates for the opportunity do, you can be at a disadvantage. Get whoever you are talking to’s business card. It is never an inappropriate question. Now, it’s kind of like the dating rule. Let the 24 hours pass because we don’t want to seem overeager. When following up, remind them who you are and what opportunities you’re interested in. Be professional and diligent about those types of communications. Make them grammatically correct and professional. Continue to foster that relationship while realizing that there is a fine line between being persistent and annoying, but a check-in after six months is appropriate. It never hurts to reaffirm your interest in a company and possible opportunities. Effectively elaborate on your skill set. Don’t over do it. Many students need help with examples when it comes to communicating their skills, interests, and career goals when networking. They will be able to answer questions like “What are your strengths?” but cannot articulate and elaborate on specific instances where they used these strengths. You can, however, talk too much, so try to be concise and follow 6 7 8 9 10 Photo courtesy of OSU Career Services.
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