It’s All About Networking: Our Director of PD on "Selling Yourself"

With career fair in the rearview mirror, PSE members and Miami students as a whole have just (hopefully) had valuable networking experiences. For some, this was their first time interacting with recruiters, but for others, career fair was not their first rodeo. But what’s the point of a career fair? Is networking really that important? Could one actually land an interview from this? To answer our, I went to PSE’s our own Vice President of Professional Development, Charlotte Thaler.

I started by asking Charlotte about why the career fair is so important. She said that career fair is an awesome opportunity to potentially find job and internship opportunities. She also noted that, at the very least, it is a great opportunity to conduct yourself professionally because it forces you to put on a suit and act like an adult. Frankly, is great practice for talking with business professionals and convincing them how you can add value to a team. As Charlotte said, “Miami does it for a reason.”

I then asked Charlotte about some other potential opportunities for students to network. She said that companies are often tabling inside of Farmer School of Business. “you talk to them for three minutes, you get free donuts, free coffee, whatever you want!” So, not only will you get some free swag, but you get an opportunity to potentially find a job or internship. These tables are criminally underutilized, so be sure that the next time you see one, take some time out of your day for a quick chat.?

Next, Charlotte told me about some of the best practices for when you interact with a recruiter. Charlotte said that confidence is key:? use good posture, give a firm handshake and project confidence. Recruiters are also trying to sell you on them, so ensure you are confident. “It is always important to interview the interviewer… Recruiters want to be treated as people too.” Your goal should be to try and build rapport with recruiters and have a nice conversation. In the end, Charlotte said your goal should be to be asked for your resume. That shows that the recruiter enjoyed the conversation and is potentially interested in bringing you in for an interview.?

Arguably the most important question I asked was next. I wanted to know if networking actually adds to your job prospects. We hear it all the time, but Charlotte brought up a good point: ‘life is very much about who you know… I recently read a LinkedIn article that said [about] 70-80% of job opportunities come from networking.” This is the reality of the job market - having connections is a great way to get in the door. The sooner you start, and the better you are at networking, the easier your job search will be. That is why events like career fair are so important.?

Finally, I asked Charlotte how our chapter takes steps to help our members network. Our largest claim to fame is the Post-Career Fair, where our chapter brings in recruiters to speak directly with our members. However, PSE also provides members with opportunities to network with chapter sponsors who come to our GBMs (General Business Meetings). Our regional and national conventions are also a great opportunity. Chapter sponsors go to both events, and the national convention also has a PSE career fair. Our members are also an integral part of our chapter network with 130 people. From the minute you join, you will get dozens of support and LinkedIn connections ;) These members turn into alumni, who could recommend you for positions in the future.?

Overall, networking is essential, and PSE allows you to build upon your skills and connections. For anyone reading, take advantage of the opportunities that Miami provides and go find yourself a good fit!