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8 Networking Tips For College Students

Networking is the process of building relationships, so it’s not just collecting business cards or connecting on LinkedIn. It is a process of meeting new people, letting them know who you are, and what future opportunities you seek. According to LinkedIn, 85% of American jobs are filled through networking.

There are all kinds of networking opportunities at universities or colleges, including networking nights or recruiters visiting your campus. Use these opportunities well, and you may land your dream job.

Here are 8 important networking tips that college students need to know.

1. How do I network?

Networking is all about communication. It is an opportunity to engage in conversations, ranging from your interests to professional goals, with recruiters, professionals, and faculty. While networking, you do not want to be aggressive or artificial. It is best to be genuine and relaxed. Building a genuine relationship with a recruiter, faculty, or professional can lead to their connecting you to a job/internship opportunity or with a contact who can lead you to a job/internship opportunity.

2. When should I network?

It is never too early to begin networking. You can follow your college’s career center, subscribe to department emails, or join clubs related to your career interests. As a freshman, you can use networking to help guide your future career path. Networking early in your college career allows you to connect with professionals who may be helpful later when you’re looking for internships or jobs. During your sophomore or junior year, networking can help you land a summer internship. It is better to network early in the fall semester and line up an internship before spring semester. During your senior year, networking is crucial to land a full-time job.

3. What should I wear to a networking event?

Different networking events have different dress codes. Be sure to look at the flier or posting about the networking event. If the event is business casual, men should wear dress pants and a button-down shirt with dress shoes. While ties are not required for business casual, it may help you look more put together. For women, business casual can be a pair of chino pants or dress pants paired with a button-up shirt or blouse. Flats or heels may be worn, but aim for comfort so you are not distracted during the event. Be sure to look put together and well-groomed before you enter a networking environment.

4. What do I do before a networking event?

Before a networking event, be sure to master your elevator pitch and do your research. An elevator pitch is a 30-second speech that summarizes who you are, what you do, and why you would be a perfect candidate. This is a speech that will help recruiters and professionals see how you can present yourself positively in a brief period of time. Many networking events and opportunities are scheduled events, so you have time to do your research. Find out which professionals will be in attendance, which companies are represented, and research the roles of the companies.

5. What should I do at a networking event?

You should talk to professionals, recruiters, and faculty. Seek to engage in quality conversations. You should aim to talk to more than one professional during an entire networking event. The purpose of networking events is to expand your network, so be sure to talk to a handful of people and really try to put yourself out there.

Always introduce yourself and try to make a positive impression. If you’ve done your research, you can discuss recent company news with company representatives. Did a company just engage in a large merger or gain a new client? Be sure to bring up key points about recent company news and ask questions about the company at networking events to demonstrate your knowledge and interest in the company.

Also, listen to the people you meet. Active listening can go a long way at a networking event. You want to remember some key points that you can bring up after the networking event, so the professional or recruiter can remember who you are. At the end of a conversation with a professional or recruiter, ask for their business card so you can thank them for their time. You can also ask if you can connect with them on LinkedIn where your resume can be made available.

6. What shouldn’t I do at a networking event?

You want to make a good impression at networking events, so you should stay away from certain actions. The most important is, don’t be rude. While you are at a networking event to find an internship or a job, you shouldn’t shove your resume into a recruiter’s hand. Instead, make a connection first, so the recruiter is more likely to pass on your resume to the next stage. Also, you should not stick to the people you know already. The whole point of networking is to meet new people, so be sure to leave your comfort zone and engage with people you don’t know.

7. How do I make a good impression?

Networking can be intimidating for college students, as they often view networking as a leap into the professional world. In reality, networking is preparing students for the professional world. To make a good impression while networking, be sure to look neat and well-groomed, demonstrate professionalism, have a great attitude, and express a genuine interest in the conversation.

8. What do I do after a networking event?

After a networking event, be sure to email the people you connected with to thank them for their time. In your email, include details of your discussion to help the recruiters remember you. If possible, connect through LinkedIn, which is the social network for young professionals to join as soon as they enter college as they can expand their professional network much quicker and easier. Be sure to stay in contact with your recruiter, but never harass a recruiter for a position.

GRAD 101: How to Attain an “I Ain’t Never Scared” Attitude

Are you an OG (original gangster) in the grad school game or are you a newbie—just beginning to cut your teeth? Regardless of what stage you are in your doc program, you gotta be fierce. You must attain an “I Ain’t Never Scared” attitude in order to survive and thrive the graduate school hustle.

I am grateful to God that I completed my doctorate in May 2016. The process was a beast, to say the least. I prayed, developed defense strategies to stay on-track, and battled—I battled boredom, burnout, depression, fatigue, and perfectionism—and I have the scars to prove it. I waged what seemed like a never-ending war and I won.

I did not win because I had inside intelligence, superior weaponry, or a special forces team. I won because I discovered that my “greatest enemy was my inner me.” That’s right…only I could sabotage myself and my success. On top of that, I discovered that I was operating out of fear. I was afraid (like some of my GradHacker colleagues have expressed) that I did not belong in my program…that I was not good enough…simply an imposter. I was afraid of criticism and did not recognize that “constructive” criticism was essential to my growth and formation as a scholar. Airing an unpopular opinion sent shivers down my spine, and I squelched at the prospect of being labeled a statistic (another first-generation college/graduate student who somehow missed being swept down the gutter) or a charity case.

It was only after I was nearing the finish line that I had an epiphany: I was scared.

It’s almost Halloween, but, no, I am not talking about having nightmares from watching too many horror flicks, ghosts and goblins, or dodging black cats out of superstition. I was afraid of upsetting high-profile people, voicing unconventional views, and of failure. I was so afraid of failing that I kept it hush-hush that I was even pursuing a Ph.D. I only told my immediate family, because I thought that somehow…someway…I might not finish. It might sound foolish, but the fear was real and the stakes were very high—especially for a first-generation Black girl from the rural South where everybody and their mama knows all your business.

 

I finally faced my fears. Have you? Do you have what it takes to stay sane, keep it 100, slay your diss., and Nae Nae across the stage (if you really want to) when you get your Ph.D.? I bet you do but may not even know it. In order to do any of the above, you simply can’t be scared…ever. So, how can you face your fears and effectively deal with them? I’m so glad you asked…I did so by developing an “I Ain’t Never Scared” attitude.

Top 10 Way to Attain an “I Ain’t Never Scared” Attitude

1.     Ask for the four letter word: H-E-L-P. The moment you don’t understand something, make it your business to find the answer(s) by any (legal and ethical) means necessary. Just because you are in a doctoral program does not mean that you (or your peers) do or are expected to know everything. Remember: You know what you know, and you don’t know what you don’t know.

2.     Apply for teaching, research, or any other type of position even if you do not think you meet ALL of the qualifications. I am not saying that you should blindly apply for anything and everything (although funding feels and looks good). However, I am saying that you will never know if you could have (or should have) gotten that position unless you apply for it. Let the hiring manager tell you “no.” Don’t disqualify yourself. One more thing…who knows…maybe the folks hiring are willing to work with and train you so that you can gain new skills.

3.     Dare to disagree respectfully with whomever (e.g. friend, peer, colleague, supervisor, and, yes, even your advisor), but do your homework. Know the facts, back up what you say with statistics, scholarship, personal experience, etc. In sum, know what you are talking about, why, and then say something even if it will ruffle a few feathers—which probably need plucking anyway.

4.     Be honest. I struggle with this one daily, because the truth may hurt. Many times I have tried to butter up, sweeten, or soften my approach just to appease and please. I would have avoided plenty of headaches and heartaches by simply speaking the truth in love. It may hurt but people will come to know and respect your candid yet thoughtful commentary.

5.     Vanquish fear. Remember: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” –Marianne Williamson

6.     Develop solid standards and abide by them. Know what you will and will not do, then stick to it.

7.     You are behind the wheel, so drive! Yes, you have a committee and dissertation chair/advisor. However, ultimately, you determine how quickly or slowly you progress through your program. So drive your degree like your very life depends on it…because it does.

8.     Do you. Do not try to mimic or be like anyone else because that is impossible. I get so sick and tired of hearing people say they want to be the next _____ [insert name of academic superstar of your choice.] You are not and will never be(come) them so do you!

9.     Always believe in yourself, your talents, your abilities, and your dreams. Encourage yourself.

10.  “Go BIG or go home.” Throughout my life, people have always cautioned me to have a Plan B. Since I was young, naïve, and did not like being broke or unemployed, I listened. Seriously, having a Plan B sounds pretty good especially if Plan A does not work out. At least it looks like you landed on your feet. (Appearances are deceiving.) Moreover, when you have a backup plan, you appear SMART. I get it. However, I have also discovered (and I read this somewhere too but I cannot remember where) having a backup plan can backfire. Develop a Plan B but don’t plan on using it because Plan A just…might…workJ

To all my peeps in grad programs, when you have applied all of the above criteria, you will have attained an “I ain’t never scared” attitude. From this moment onward your life will never be the same…

The Professional Student

Just about anyone pursuing graduate school has had to answer that awkward “what do you do?” question about your studies. This can be difficult to answer, as grad school is a sort of transitory zone between being a student (undergrad) and being a professional (work). Are you a student, professional, or some sort of professional student?

There are two camps when it comes to graduate school: those who see it as an extension of undergraduate studies and student life, and those who see it as pre-professional position. During my PhD I struggled to find what constituted “professional” behavior for a graduate student and what exactly I needed to do for “professional development.”

Working conditions for graduate students don’t help with this dilemma, as many of us don’t work a traditional 9-5 shift. Instead, many grad students cobble together erratic schedules that consist of teaching, research, and writing that often bleed over into our personal lives, further confusing the definition of our work. Sometimes it can be really hard to feel like a professional and not a student when you’re coming into the lab at 10 p.m. on a Friday night in your sweatpants to harvest cells, knowing that you’ll be back Saturday morning at 10 a.m. to look at the very same cells in the very same sweatpants.

However, despite the individual confusion we can feel about our professional status, as a whole, graduate students are very much in professional roles. A recent court ruling decided that, in cases where grad students teach or conduct research for the university, they are indeed university employees and entitled to the same protections as employees, even if they do wear sweats into the lab on Saturdays.

Treating graduate school as the professional experience it is requires development of your sense of professionalism. Professionalism matters for graduate students because it gives us a way to prioritize and organize our working lives and take pride in the work that we do. This will help you get the most out of your graduate experience so that you’re ready for whatever comes after graduate school, where you most definitely will be in a professional role. Having recently completed my PhD, I can clearly see in retrospect how cultivating professionalism was a key part of graduate school and was a major asset in transitioning into a non-academic position after graduation.

Three Key Areas to Master for Professional Grad Students

Time Management and Prioritization: You may not be getting paid much, but your time is incredibly valuable as a grad student and even more so an employee. As grad students we can get used to long hours watching cat videos on YouTube while the centrifuge completes a run, or taking frequent coffee breaks to get away from the lab during our 50+ hour workweeks. There’s nothing really wrong with this, as the flexibility of many students’ schedules allows for it, but it can make for a very difficult transition into work if you’re not used to hard deadlines and limited hours of operation. While in grad school, if I didn’t manage my time well and an experiment went too long or if I wasn’t done with writing I could stay as late as I needed to complete the work or come in on the weekend to catch up with plating cells. This is not the case as an employee, as now I have to contend with standard hours of operation, fixed deadlines, and collaborative projects that require me to finish my part on time or the whole project stalls. Thankfully, as a grad student I was ruthless about maintaining strict deadlines for myself and limiting my hours to 8-5 so the transition was not too difficult. Start building the habit of treating your time as precious and not something to waste and you’ll be well prepared for the professional transition.

Setting Your Standards for Independent Work: One of the great transitions graduate students undergo is becoming an independent professional and not a passive consumer of information. Part of that will be learning how you generate original work and how to set standards for yourself along the way. It can be a difficult adjustment after years of studying for the test in undergrad or just writing enough to get an “A” on an assignment. Suddenly being faced with the open-ended concept of what is “good enough” can be unnerving and lead to perfectionism or sloppy work if you’re not used to setting independent standards for yourself. Ask yourself  “What does good work in my field look like?” and work toward that. Set high but realistic standards for yourself so that when you do become more independent (either as an employee or postdoc) you know how to complete professional work with little to no input from those around you. Intellectual independence is the whole point of graduate school, so embrace the transition early on and learn to take control of and pride in the quality of work that you produce.

Embracing Professional Criticism: Learning to stand up for your research or scholarship can be difficult when first starting out. Mastering the art of presenting and defending your ideas in a rational, reasoned matter is a useful skill wherever you go, so make the most of your committee members for this reason. They are excellent trainers for learning to take an independent stance on your work and learning how to deal with conflicting opinions in a professional setting. On the interpersonal side of things, remember that while professional criticism of your work is to be expected, you are entitled to all of the professional respect due to anyone working in a more traditional 9-to-5 setting. Report abuse and harassment, whether from peers, students, co-workers, or professors. If it shouldn’t happen in an office setting it should not be happening in your lab, classroom, or field site. Don’t fall the trap of thinking “I’m just a student, so this behavior is acceptable.”

This student attitude is, in fact, my greatest regret of graduate school; I wish that I had learned to stand up for and demand the professional respect that myself and others deserved earlier. I eventually learned how to do this after having to deal with some seriously disrespectful behavior, but it is clear that I would have benefited from getting over the “but I’m a student” mindset the minute I set foot on campus as a graduate student.

Closing Thoughts

Professional development is not just the sum of the skills that you have or your number of published papers. It includes how you approach your work, structure your time, and interact with your colleagues. Make the most of your graduate education by learning to approach your studies not just as an extension of school where you are a passive student, but as a professional student actively participating in your profession.

What professional skills do you think benefit graduate students the most as students and in the workplace? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

8 Networking Tips For College Students

There are all kinds of networking opportunities at universities or colleges, including networking nights or recruiters visiting your campus. Use these opportunities well, and you may land your dream job.

Here are 8 important networking tips that college students need to know.

1. How do I network?

Networking is all about communication. It is an opportunity to engage in conversations, ranging from your interests to professional goals, with recruiters, professionals, and faculty. While networking, you do not want to be aggressive or artificial. It is best to be genuine and relaxed. Building a genuine relationship with a recruiter, faculty, or professional can lead to their connecting you to a job/internship opportunity or with a contact who can lead you to a job/internship opportunity.

2. When should I network?

It is never too early to begin networking. You can follow your college’s career center, subscribe to department emails, or join clubs related to your career interests. As a freshman, you can use networking to help guide your future career path. Networking early in your college career allows you to connect with professionals who may be helpful later when you’re looking for internships or jobs. During your sophomore or junior year, networking can help you land a summer internship. It is better to network early in the fall semester and line up an internship before spring semester. During your senior year, networking is crucial to land a full-time job.

3. What should I wear to a networking event?

Different networking events have different dress codes. Be sure to look at the flier or posting about the networking event. If the event is business casual, men should wear dress pants and a button-down shirt with dress shoes. While ties are not required for business casual, it may help you look more put together. For women, business casual can be a pair of chino pants or dress pants paired with a button-up shirt or blouse. Flats or heels may be worn, but aim for comfort so you are not distracted during the event. Be sure to look put together and well-groomed before you enter a networking environment.

4. What do I do before a networking event?

Before a networking event, be sure to master your elevator pitch and do your research. An elevator pitch is a 30-second speech that summarizes who you are, what you do, and why you would be a perfect candidate. This is a speech that will help recruiters and professionals see how you can present yourself positively in a brief period of time. Many networking events and opportunities are scheduled events, so you have time to do your research. Find out which professionals will be in attendance, which companies are represented, and research the roles of the companies.

5. What should I do at a networking event?

You should talk to professionals, recruiters, and faculty. Seek to engage in quality conversations. You should aim to talk to more than one professional during an entire networking event. The purpose of networking events is to expand your network, so be sure to talk to a handful of people and really try to put yourself out there.

Always introduce yourself and try to make a positive impression. If you’ve done your research, you can discuss recent company news with company representatives. Did a company just engage in a large merger or gain a new client? Be sure to bring up key points about recent company news and ask questions about the company at networking events to demonstrate your knowledge and interest in the company.

Also, listen to the people you meet. Active listening can go a long way at a networking event. You want to remember some key points that you can bring up after the networking event, so the professional or recruiter can remember who you are. At the end of a conversation with a professional or recruiter, ask for their business card so you can thank them for their time. You can also ask if you can connect with them on LinkedIn where your resume can be made available.

6. What shouldn’t I do at a networking event?

You want to make a good impression at networking events, so you should stay away from certain actions. The most important is, don’t be rude. While you are at a networking event to find an internship or a job, you shouldn’t shove your resume into a recruiter’s hand. Instead, make a connection first, so the recruiter is more likely to pass on your resume to the next stage. Also, you should not stick to the people you know already. The whole point of networking is to meet new people, so be sure to leave your comfort zone and engage with people you don’t know.

7. How do I make a good impression?

Networking can be intimidating for college students, as they often view networking as a leap into the professional world. In reality, networking is preparing students for the professional world. To make a good impression while networking, be sure to look neat and well-groomed, demonstrate professionalism, have a great attitude, and express a genuine interest in the conversation.

8. What do I do after a networking event?

After a networking event, be sure to email the people you connected with to thank them for their time. In your email, include details of your discussion to help the recruiters remember you. If possible, connect through LinkedIn, which is the social network for young professionals to join as soon as they enter college as they can expand their professional network much quicker and easier. Be sure to stay in contact with your recruiter, but never harass a recruiter for a position.

Networking may seem daunting for college students, but it is essential. So, take advantage of all networking opportunities at your college and make it a point to enlarge your network.

How to Develop a Strategic Writing Plan

Female hand holding a pen and writing a plan in a planner

“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” — Ernest Hemingway

 

I recently read an article where writers’ daily routines were romanticized albeit with useful information. Japanese writer Haruki Murakami spoke to the importance of a routine: “I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind.” I tie this idea of repetition in a routine with a recent graduate student workshop I attended on how to develop a strategic writing plan. Here is a list of the current and developing practices that make up my writing routine.

 

Write every day. The author Anaïs Nin simply stated, “I write every day.” There has been much research conducted on the positive effects of writing every day in academia, including that of psychologist Robert Boice. As a pre-candidate, I aim to develop a strategic writing plan that includes solidly writing every day by the time I start my dissertation. That is why in my first year, I am dedicated to writing every day. I learned to start with 15 minutes and have worked up to 30 minutes every day with an ultimate goal of reaching an hour by the end of the academic year. I like to think broadly of writing to include brainstorming, reading, outlining, and synthesizing, but I have restructured my plan to write every day to focus on word count, so that means I am truly writing. There are many apps (Focus KeeperBlock & Flow30/30) that can help with this timed writing session. I also have been exploring more sophisticated options for time and project management such as Rescue Time and Liquid Planner (which is free to .edu emails). Some days I am writing for papers and projects, other days it’s a manuscript I am working on, and often I write for me in what I call my “Spark Files,” where I track ideas and inspiration in my academic career. I am currently writing 300-500 words a day in 30 minutes. By the end of the year, I aim to be writing for a solid hour for twice that amount.

 

Warm up with writing prompts. I start each writing session with a writing prompt for three minutes where I write continuously for the whole duration. I alternate between writing by hand and typing in a saved file of writing prompts. As the writer Natalie Goldberg instructed, keep your hand moving. If there is a moment where I have a blank thought and a pause, I came up with the phrase “Keep writing!” where I write that over and over again until my inspiration comes back. I encourage you to come up with your own filler phrase. I write for the full three minutes. I find my prompts online, through this great book of things to write about, and from an app on my phone, Brainsparker, that includes thought provoking prompts like “What is your soul calling you to do?” and even pictures that are incredibly moving to write about.

 

Broaden your perspective on ways to write. When I get what I call “typing fatigue” and I am not very productive in my writing process, I switch things up. I handwrite sections. I use colorful Post-It notes to organize frameworks and outlines. One new alternative that I have explored and loved this year is dictation. I currently use the Google Docs voice typing tool to transcribe my thoughts. If this method works out, I want to look into investing in options such as Dragon Dictation. Similarly, I pull out my phone and create a voice memo transitioning between meetings and classes when I have a thought that can shape my writing. I also invested in a powerful writing software that allows for more fluidity when I am working on big projects such as a final paper, manuscript, or thesis. There is more than one way to write, so make sure you explore all options and alternate between those that work best for you.

 

Write fast now, edit slow later. In meeting my word count goals, I am also focused on writing fast now, and editing slow later, a concept developed by Sonja K. Foss and William Waters. Writing is capturing ideas on paper. Editing is sculpting to express ideas effectively by scrutinizing, moving, removing, and transforming materials. You maximize your writing time when you separate the writing and editing as two processes. If you don’t believe me, try this quick exercise. Pull out your phone to time yourself as you say the alphabet out loud. Now, time yourself again as you alternate between a letter and a consecutive number (A 1 B 2 C 3). It will take you twice if not three times as long to get to “Z 26.” Separating writing and editing was a tough concept for someone like me to learn who loves to edit as I write (it satisfies the perfectionist in me!). Now, I turn off my spell and grammar checker and am focused only on getting the next word out. When I first started this concept, I taped a blank piece of paper over my screen to focus on writing. This was an excruciating experience, but I learned to write fast. I schedule in time to edit separately. My writing time is much more effective.

 

Protect your writing time. A previous GradHacker post outlined strategies to keep focused while writing your dissertation including identifying your most productive time during the day for writing using heat mapping. A good practice to get into is to schedule your writing time when you are the most productive and protect that time. Do not schedule anything during your writing time. Treat it as an important appointment you cannot miss or reschedule. I am the most productive in the morning. Since I am still taking courses, I enroll for classes in the afternoon or evenings and I schedule meetings during that time as well to protect my mornings. In this practice, an important concept to keep in mind is flexibility. There may be a class that is only offered in the morning, so I have to be prepared that semester to make adjustments. I protect my writing time on the weekends as well. For example, I will wake up earlier to write if I have a Sunday brunch scheduled. Protecting my writing time is a daily practice.

 

And so, I leave you with this quote from Oscar Wilde: “This morning I took out a comma and this afternoon I put it back again.” I have certainly been there. I know how arduous the writing process can be. However, with a steady and consistent routine, I can indeed work myself into a mesmerized state of productivity because I have reached a deeper state of mind through a strategic writing plan.

 

What is your current writing routine? What would you like to incorporate into a strategic writing plan?

How To Make a Good First Impression While Networking

You marked your calendar for the career fair coming up next week. You polished your resumé, you did your homework on the companies that are going to be there, practiced your elevator pitch, and you know your strengths just in case any questions come up.

Great start. Finally, you need to shift your attention to the first impression. The way you come across in that first meeting can set the standard of how someone views all of your work, for better or worse. Make sure your first impression will leave feelings of professionalism and preparedness with any future connection.

Dress to impress

55% of first impressions are based on physical appearance, so if you have all the above ready, it’s time to make sure your look is up to the same level of preparation. A good tip for dressing is to go one “step” above the typical dress code of the industry you’re interested in. For example, if the dress code for most companies is casual, opt for a more business casual look. This shows that you’re in touch with the industry culture and familiar with what your future could look like. Check out specific companies’ social media pages and websites, or even Glassdoor to get a better idea of what you should wear.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that even if the dress code is casual, it’s always smart to dress professionally while networking. This means wearing conservative, neutral-colored clothing that fits comfortably.

Deal with insecurities

So, your clothes are ironed, and the outfit prepared, but now you need to deal with any cosmetic issues that might distract you. Maybe you struggle with male pattern baldness or yellowing teeth, or maybe you have some deeper issues with self-image. Whatever your insecurities are, if they cause you to lose confidence, it’s important to address them ahead of the event. But, don’t stress; there are often many different ways to treat cosmetic issues. For example, a doctor can prescribe a medication to help you combat receding hairlines and balding or suggest a whitening toothpaste to make sure your pearly whites are shining.

Alternatively, try out some lifestyle changes to manage your issues. Make sure you don’t skip out on styling your hair. If you walk in with bedhead, potential employers may take you as being lazy or not serious. And, avoid drinking beverages that stain your teeth the day before, like red wine, or coffee, the morning of to keep your teeth as clean as possible. Or, if you think your issues are more personal, consider speaking with a counselor about what could be causing your insecurities, and create a plan to develop more self-esteem. Projecting your self-confidence is critical in impressing at events, so it’s important you feel ready to enter every networking opportunity with your head held high.

Be prepared

When networking, it’s always important to be ready to share your information and experience. Your preparedness and organization in these early meetings can go a long way in impressing potential employers. Keep multiple (fresh) copies of your resumé or samples of your work on-hand. A good way to keep your resumés clean is to use a resumé folder. This handy folder is a great spot to have pre-written notes on companies you’re interested in while staying organized and professional-looking.

A folder is also a good spot to store a few personal business cards that you can give to people as a tangible way to remember you. Make sure you also have a pen on-hand in case there’s any notes to take during your conversations.

Utilize the final handshake

After you have your conversation, make sure you sign-off with a firm handshake and eye contact, and say their name: “Thanks for talking to me, Sarah, I loved learning about your company and hope we can be in touch.” This shows you paid attention from the start and adds a personal touch. Remember, these people are likely meeting dozens, if not hundreds of other interested jobseekers, so be as personal as you can to make the best first impression.

You might also want to think of sending out a hand-written note to the people you met just thanking them in more detail. A hand-written note like this makes you stand out even more and can go a long way in developing their lasting impression of you.

Congratulations! You’re all prepped for your big career fair, now go out there and impress!

How to Get an Excellent Grade: Most Successful Tips for Your Assignment

  

 

    

   

 

 

  

    

 

 

    

      

 

 

    

     

   

 

 

       

   

Stress Management For Students

   

  

  

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Business Administration Key Skills You Need to Develop for Your Career Prosperity

Some professions in this world are much more demanding in terms of intrapersonal as well as interpersonal skills. Professionals residing under such posts must be highly competitive and adaptable to stay in the race. Among them, business administration stands forth in the list.

The leading role of a business administrator is to direct the management and supervise the finances of an organization. The products and services department, overseeing the productivity of a workplace and sales report, is also their responsibility. The position of business administrator gives them a chance to collaborate with other staff members to make the project successful. A person working at any of the relevant posts needs excellent skills along with other qualities to ensure the company’s accomplishment in every sector. Business skills are an essential component of a professional workplace environment. These sets of skills can improve the efficiency, output, and performance of the organization at all levels. It is an extensive field, and if you want to grow into a business asset, you need to build some of these essential traits.

Listed below are some essential business administration skills that you can develop for your career’s prosperity:

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

 

Business and management jobs are more about good interaction with people, and you need to build mutual terms with your colleagues. These skills become a necessity when you are leading a team; useful guidance comes with successful work relationships. Set a professional boundary and know your team better through social activity. In successful organizations, the team leaders demonstrate managerial qualities with a sense of authority, but they also think of themselves as team members. Acknowledge other’s expertise and show interest in their suggestions and feedback. An active listener gives a positive outlook to his team by listening to them with attention. Appreciation gives individual confidence to deliver in a better manner next time. If you are working in a business field and want to improve your managerial skills, you can reach out to an MBA program online. Since by pursuing online education, you don’t need to abandon your job and learn as much as you can from the courses.

 

COMMUNICATION AND ENTHUSIASM

 

A good leader acts as a communication bridge between frontline staff and senior management.  You will liaise with people from within the organization and outside the organization. From employees to officials of higher posts, your interaction with them can be written and verbal. Professional communication is mostly about new information. To cut down the communication gap, have to make your team members comfortable and arrange weekly or monthly meetings to facilitate them.  With a set of excellent communication skills, you will be able to identify and address areas of improvement on an individual and group level very effectively. Be clear in articulating your ideas; this will determine your success. To safeguard the prosperity of your career, focus on reducing conflict, and involve everyone in the projects. These steps expand and motivate team members to deliver their best in achieving the targets. Even when there is no need for verbal communication, you can use your body language to convey a positive message. Seminars are a promising way of improving your business administration skills. Better connectivity means less hassle and more yield.

 

NEGOTIATION SKILLS

 

Every business goes through ups and downs with the right negotiation strategies. You can save any organization from a significant loss. In business, it is about getting the most suitable and valuable deals for the organization. To polish your negotiating skills, try to negotiate as often as possible, whether it be a small business deal or a big one, always remember to keep a smile on your face. As a business administrator, spotting and solving the problems can be a significant part of your job title. Develop the ability to attain patience and think with an open mind. Be innovative in finding the right solutions, and do not put yourself in stressful situations. Be smart in weighing up the pros and cons of a business administration situation to make timely and informed decisions.

 

TEAMWORK

 

In business administration, it’s about working together to achieve common goals. Teamwork has a positive effect on the products and the overall outcome of a project. Think about new strategies that can make your cooperation secure and reliable. It is about aiming for the right opportunities using your knowledge, experience, and skills to deliver profoundly. A business administrator must be a team player and well aware of the organization’s mission and aims. In the business field, the whole team needs to be clear about the company’s competitors to bring a sense of hard work and healthy competition. One way of improving teamwork is to allot tasks to each individual and see how they perform then you can make them work together by appreciating their strengths. Your career prosperity can also take a fast pace when you organize team processes and cultivate open communication. Encourage socializing if you feel like your colleagues and employees are not accessible.

 

LEADERSHIP

 

Here come the most common and essential attributes of a successful and professional business administrator. If you wish to prosper smoothly in your career, leadership skills can act as a ladder. Leadership is about following the principles and believing in the expertise of your team members. Individuals having leadership skills also have the vision to take their plan one step ahead. In a competitive working environment, you can create endless opportunities for the evolution, effectiveness, and productivity of your organization and employees. A great team leader acts as a mentor for his employees and passes his knowledge and skills to other colleagues.

FINAL WORD

Business administration is a field with a substantial impact on any organization. The individuals working in this position have the power to turn small businesses into brands and business giants. You can gain these skills through experience in this field, which requires a lot of time, or you can apply for a degree that can provide you with the needed knowledge. Education is a must-have component of a business person’s profile and it guarantees entrepreneurial principles. With the attributes mentioned above, you can make a successful career in the world’s most challenging field.

The Perfection Expectation

Recently I overheard a couple of faculty members discussing some of the challenges they were facing with their new cohort of doctoral students. The professors had provided them with an abundance of feedback on the first writing assignment and the group had made A’s and B’s overall. However, the professors were shocked at the response to that feedback, and a few students were downright defensive and outraged at earning less than 100%.

Eavesdropping, I could empathize with some of the students’ reactions— as I’m writing this, I just received a B on a paper, and I’m reeling with where I may have “failed.” Graduate students are rightfully held to an incredibly high intellectual standard. Mediocrity isn’t okay. Even before you start your graduate school journey you are exposed to lofty expectations. For admission, many graduate schools expect stellar GRE scores, require well-above average GPA requirements, and some programs even expect you to have a thesis topic or faculty research advisor selected prior to admission.

Perfectionism is on the rise. A recent study found higher levels of perfectionism among students during the 2000s than during the 1990s. One type of perfectionism, known as socially prescribed perfectionism, is based on the expectations of others. This type of perfectionism has seen an incredible spike – 33% based on the study results. Due in part to the influence of social media, society is becoming increasingly competitive, glorifies shameless self promotion, and as a result many people feel the need to constantly seek social acceptance. It is not surprising that people are striving toward the unrealistic goal of perfection as a means of self-validation and also as a way to “fit in” amongst their peers.

Perfectionism places stress on graduate students, impacting not only our wellbeing but also reducing the freedom and space to learn. On the other hand, accepting constructive criticism is key to learning and growth. Stress is real, learning is real, mistakes are real. What’s not real? Perfection. Expecting to make 100% on every assignment is unrealistic and sets you up for low morale earned through a fantasy. I believe perfectionism is a form of self-defense as well. If you hold yourself to high standards and expect perfect grades, you’ll maintain your place in your cohort and preserve your own self image. While striving towards a high goal is necessary for achievement, the idea of perfectionism can be destructive.

I can’t necessarily offer a solution to the issue, as I’m guilty of this too. Am I suggesting more leniency in grading? No. Am I telling grad students to suck it up? I’m not saying that either. We have an interesting situation here: we live in a performance based world that, for high achievers, doesn’t offer much room for mistakes. Every facet of our professional (and to some extent, personal) lives is documented. Academics can never outrun a transcript record or the truth of a curriculum vitae, and we are also under the constant pressure of the publish or perish environment.

For perfectionism-prone graduate students, it’s important to remember that because of the nature of research, science is constantly evolving. Therefore, perfection is not only a figment of one’s imagination but also a moving target. You can never know all that there is to know, or for that matter, know what you do not know! Education is a progression of learning from our mistakes. If you receive strong feedback, communicate with your professors and ask questions. Seek to understand. Accept lessons graciously and with humility. Additionally, find a way to balance allowing yourself the freedom to make mistakes with performing at a graduate student level.

One of the greatest minds of modern times, Albert Einstein said, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” If you’re a student, you’re surrounded by new ideas. That’s the point of being in school. Keep progressing towards your goals and try to embrace the lessons rather than the mirage of perfection. Progress is never perfect and rarely pretty. Instead of perfection, strive for the attainable – excellence. Try to accept feedback in the form of a grade less than 100% as a learning opportunity.