Making Friends in High Places: Resources at the CCD

For the Center for Career Development, exploring how friends and acquaintances manage their social lives never seemed to be a highlight. But “Face-To-Face Networking,” a workshop generally offered weekly, is something any BU student should take the time to visit at least once, if not multiple times.

The two student ambassadors, Andy Vargas and Sonia Su, were friendly and approachable. We started out the session joking about how every introduction we made to a stranger was actually a form of networking.

It was extremely interactive and fun; we started out discussing three qualities that defined our personality. Challenge: they had to be professional qualities that an employer would want in a possible hire. So descriptions such as tough skinned, procrastinator, and tea drinking specialist were out, and other adjectives such as persistent, hard working, and detail-oriented were in.

We practiced our elevator pitches. Andy and Sonia helped us rethink some of our statements and gave advice on how to subtly enter a conversation.

But by far, these are the three most helpful tips that students should keep in mind:

 1. Every relationship is an opportunity to network.

Whether it be in an elevator, cafeteria, or while you happen to be at Espresso Royale, there’s always an opportunity to network. It’s all about being friendly, finding something in common with the person you want to talk with, and making yourself memorable.

Networking at Work!  Photo taken by Samuel Mann
Networking at Work!  |  Photo by Samuel Mann.

2. You might not find the benefits in a relationship now, but you could in the future.

A lot of people pass up the chance to network because they think a certain person doesn’t have much to offer for advancing his/her career goals.  But you never know what sort of connections a person might have, and a journalism student who passes up the opportunity to speak with a chemist might never know the scientist was great friends with the head of The New York Times.

3. The Elevator Pitch

What it is: a 30 second personal statement in which you talk about who you are, what you’ve done, and what you want to do in the future.

What it really means: it’s your best chance to sell yourself quickly, and it’s an occasion to talk about your good qualities (while skimming over anything you don’t really want to mention).

Example: Hi, I’m John Doe, and I’m a sophomore at Boston University majoring in International Relations and Political Science. I’m really interested in contributing to our government system by working at the Senate. I’ve done a lot of work with the Boston University Model United Nations where I’ve not only written background guides for a conference but also chaired a committee and organized debates among other students. My strengths include enthusiasm, persistence, and self-motivation. Do you know anyone whom I could speak with regarding government internships? Thanks so much!

For more resources from the Center for Career Development, go to bu.edu/careers/networking-interviews. For more information regarding networking strategy, check out the CAN: Career Advisory Network where you can talk to alumni. Come to Quick Questions at the CCD to practice your elevator pitch and definitely make a career counselor appointment! 

About Gabriella Gricius

Gabriella Gricius (CAS ’15) is from northern Virginia, near to Washington, D.C. She studies International Relations and Linguistics. When she is not in class, she works with the student theater group Wandering Minds as a techie, spends time with the Linguistics Association and Model United Nations, and loves any kind of books long with chess.

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