32 | Career Expo Guide 2020
How to become a master at networking TINSLEY MERRIMAN Staff Reporter @MerrimanTinsley
Networking is a useful tool for anyone who would like to get a leg up in the professional world. By networking, one can meet with professionals and gain an understanding about the field they want to enter, according to the Missouri State University Career Center website. This will also help discover hidden opportunities that may pave the way for a future career. Just like any other skill, networking takes practice. Networking can be both in person and electronic. The Career Center website gives tips on what to do when meeting with professionals. “Making the initial contact can be uncomfortable but can show a lot of confidence and genuine interest if done professionally,” the Career Center reports. “You will never have a second chance to make a first impression, so plan ahead and be courteous of their time.” The Career Center lists one of the first steps of networking as creating a web around oneself. By creating a wide networking web, you have available contacts for future employers to reference when considering you. The Career Center advises attending networking groups and conferences related to your desired career. This way, you will gain professional sources for later. Another major step of networking, according to the Career Center, is preparation. Having a plan on how to introduce yourself makes it easier to do so. This plan allows you to present your questions and strengths up front instead of later. The Career Center
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calls this a “30-second commercial” style of pitching ideas. “The key to a successful interview or networking opportunity is setting a positive first impression,” the Career Center states. “By preparing a 30-second commercial, you will have a concise overview of your experience, strengths, skills, achievements and goals.” Sometimes, one’s network can lead to a new area of opportunities. Meredith Fineman, founder of FinePoint, a company that helps develop leadership skills through public relations, talks about this in a report for the Harvard Business Review. When moving to a new area, Fineman suggests you keep an eye out for people with similar goals and interests in your field. This is where the “30-second commercial” comes into play. By having a planned out introduction, it makes it easier to establish connections anywhere you go. uSee NETWORK, page 34
