"Remember, you’re a student. You’re still learning how to do this. No one expects you to be the smoothest talker around. If you’re attending an event on campus it is important to realize that employers recognize this and understand you’re still learning. The external partners that come to events are taking time out of their day to talk to you. They want to engage and help you grow in these skills. They want to have meaningful conversations and make connections. You just need to take that first step."

     -Chandler Holyoak, Employer and Community Partner Outreach Specialist

"As a Co-op student, I used to find networking intimidating. I often asked myself, 'What if I run out of things to say?' or 'What if I make a bad impression?' What helped ease my nerves was researching the companies attending the event and preparing thoughtful questions in advance. Being prepared made me feel more confident and allowed me to engage in conversations more comfortably, ultimately helping me build stronger professional connections."

     -Parker Gehring, Experiential Learning Programs Support Intern. 

"After a networking conversation, I take a moment to think back on what was said. I pay attention to little details, like a change in tone when they talked about something that mattered or a story that stuck with me. I jot down a quick note so I remember. These details make it easier to have follow-up conversations and turn short chats into genuine and sincere connections."

     -Justin Pritchard, MBA Career Coach & Educator

“When it comes to the start of the conversation, it is easy to ask questions like “what do you do?” or “where do you work?. I love to start with something more focused on a person’s passions, hobbies, interests, etc… I love to start with a question like, “if you had the whole day free to yourself, what would you do? It allows the person to settle into the conversation with something they enjoy doing or wish they could do more of."

     -Paul Taylor, MBA Career Coach & Education Lead

As a student, it is very easy to get imposter syndrome at networking events. Feeling out of place is very normal, but it is always important to stay confident. Prepare beforehand a few talking points you think would make you stand out, such as your educational background, work experiences, and commonly asked questions. Make a good impression by dressing professionally and remember to smile! 

     -Meng yang Li, Community Engagement Intern