UBCMA Gateways: Building a Network

Networking.

Sweaty palms tucked in pockets, hesitant to reach out for that handshake. Tongue tied, choking on every word. You’ve forgotten your name. You weave through the sea of people, hoping that you wouldn’t spill your glass of water on a President’s perfectly tailored suit. Awkward.

But it doesn’t have to be.

Yesterday, I attended Gateways, a marketing conference in downtown, hosted by the UBC Marketing Association. Throughout the evening, we listened to the keynote speaker, George Moen, the president of Blenz Coffee, share his journey of success. In addition, members of some prolific businesses shared their insights and stories in smaller workshops: Aaron Cruikshank, Associate Vice President of Ipsos Reid; Jessica Best, District Merchandising Manager at Aritzia; Cameron Lang, Account Executive at TBA Digital; Todd Towers, President and Creative Director of Farmboy Fine Arts.

Then came the networking session…

I checked to make sure that my blazer was sitting straight. I dabbed the sweat off my hands and popped a mint in my mouth. “Hi my name is…Hi my name is…Nice to meet you….” rushed through my mind as I tried to look for corporate delegates. It was my first networking experience.

I calculated how I should approach a professional. Should I join in, or wait for a conversation to end? How firmly should a shake someone’s hand? With conviction, but not so strongly that his or her circulation is cut off.

These apprehensions are barriers to a rewarding networking session. I took a breath, strided as confidently as I could in my heels, and simply approached someone. I tried to remember the basics: greeting, smile, firm handshake. Got that. How should I start the conversation then? At first, it was a brief introduction about their careers. Once the conversation was in full-swing, awkward silences evolved into easy laughs, and engaging dialogue. I let go. Let go of the apprehension pushing me on the verge of unease. Let go of the idea that I am just a first year student. I became more confident.

For the rest of the night, I spoke to various professionals from the business community, from organizations such as financial institutions, to ad agencies, to the Vancity Buzz Blog.

As a business student, networking is an essential element in the transition from Sauder to the real world over the next few years. It’s about getting your foot in the door and being in touch with the reality of the industry. It’s about developing good professional interpersonal skills. It’s about developing genuine connections with professionals who may be able to offer some mentorship. And perhaps even connect you with a job.

Being exposed to networking opportunities like this one early on in your university career is ideal because it is a great opportunity to develop confidence and discover your passions in business. As a first year, there is still lots of time to explore and test the waters before the frenzy of recruitment hits in the years ahead. I’m glad I braved the cold, walking to the bus stop and around downtown, wearing a dress and 4-inch heels. Besides the excitement in polishing up in our best business clothes, the experience to hear and speak to some of the most influential members of the business community was inspiring and invaluable.

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Networking Tips (that I learned from Comm 202: Career Fundamentals):

1. Just say hi, introduce yourself, and show you’re genuinely interested in talking to the professionals.

2. Be polite. Shake hands web to web, look into their eyes to see their eye colour, look at their name tag, and SMILE!

2. Start the conversation with an open-ended question about them.

3. Talk about their careers and your career aspirations. Ask about their jobs, their story, industry information and advice.

4. Or discuss anything you’re interested in, including hobbies – that’s how you might strike a chord and develop a good connection.

5. Bring a buddy with you, but don’t cling onto each other too tightly.

6. Hold only one drink or food at one time – you want to keep one hand free to shake hands. Choose to be either thirsty or hungry!

7. Wait for a lull in conversation before you leave/enter one.

Remember: Just BE YOURSELF!! You’re unique, so why not be the best that you can be? Everyone has something interesting to contribute to the world – this makes us stand out from each other. Genuineness and an affable personality go a long way. Be confident in yourself – you are awesome in your own way! Relax, have a good chat, and connect!