Life after university can be quite ominous for students looking for jobs. It is not surprising then that many of them are active in school clubs and volunteering. Although resume building is imperative for a student, networking is just as important. A lot of clubs on campus create events to give opportunities for students to network with workplace professionals. According to Forbes, people are making mistakes that they do not know when networking, which confirms why there are no opportunities coming forth.
- Mistake #1 is that people boast too much about themselves. It is important to listen and to show interests to the professional that you are networking with. It’s okay to talk about yourself and your accomplishments, but be wary of going overboard.
- Mistake #2 is that people expect to get a job. Instead of expecting, you should work for it by volunteering your time. It also helps create a trusting, respectful relationship between you and the professional.
- Mistake #3 is very simple, yet a majority of people forgets to do. It is important to have manners by saying “thank you,” because it helps conclude your first impression and reputation.
- Mistake #4 is neglecting to follow up. The whole aspect of networking is to form relationships with professionals. Even if you think that they do not remember about you, it doesn’t hurt to send an email to reiterate your conversation and to also thank him/her for their time.
Although we may never be able to fix all our mistakes when networking, it is good to be aware of them so that we can learn to polish our skills the next time we attend an event.
Credit: http://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2011/09/30/4-networking-mistakes-you-dont-know-youre-making
Written by SMA Public Relations
