Here's how you can excel at networking and building connections during a Branding internship.

Focus on building genuine connections by actively listening and asking insightful questions during networking interactions. Rather than solely promoting yourself, show interest in others' experiences, challenges, and goals. This not only fosters rapport but also allows you to gather valuable insights and perspectives.

In the fast-paced world of branding, being prepared is your secret weapon. Understanding the company and industry you're entering allows you to spot opportunities and contribute innovative ideas. Your personal 'elevator pitch' is not just an introduction, it's a branding exercise for yourself - make it memorable and reflective of your unique value in the branding sphere.

Seek to understand others' perspectives, feelings, and motivations, and respond with empathy and respect. Reflecting back what you've heard and acknowledging others' emotions can create a supportive and inclusive environment, facilitating open dialogue and collaboration.

Active listening is not just about hearing words, but understanding the emotions and intentions behind them. In branding, this skill is crucial as it allows you to grasp the nuances of consumer behavior and market trends. By actively listening during your internship, you can uncover underlying brand sentiments that can inform strategy and innovation.

Here what helped me to overcome the fear of saying something stupid: -Be yourself and honest. From my observations I cant tell that people are tend to listen to someone who is honest with their feelings. Nothing wrong with admitting that you are worried or nervous right now in 99% of the cases, you will find support - Even if you say something, what causes a laughter it can be your USP, since people will remember you more likely and connect the positive experience with you - Ask questions as much as you can. That way you show interest in the current discussion, you expand your horizons and you even keep the dialogue going

Attend conferences, workshops, or networking mixers related to branding where you can meet professionals in the field and expand your professional network. Remember to approach these interactions with authenticity and genuine interest in learning from others.

It is always pleasant to know that someone cares for you. It does not need to be a big letter. A simple message like ?nice to meet you“ or ?I enjoyed the talk with you“ can cause deep bonding an connections for life time.

Being engaged helped me to broaden my own horizons, collecting experiences and dealing with various situations. BUT it also helped me gain unique perspectives, I could use in my personal branding during my talk with people. It helped me to create my own personal story, no one else had and thus find challenges I faced and help people to solve the same challenges. Simply: Let you stand out and makes you an interesting contributor to a talk!

Here in Brazil we have difficulty accessing people, especially the new generation. The younger generation is not in the habit of reading emails. Doesn't respond to messages on LinkedIn and doesn't answer the phone. The network barrier is immense.