Category: Networking & Your Brand

By: Grace Hoffmann

With less than 12 days left until graduation, (if you didn’t read the poem by Dr. Shriver, it’s a MUST, especially if you’re a senior) I’m getting a little sentimental about my time here at Miami University and being a student in the Farmer School of Business. Although four years seemed daunting freshman year, it has flown by so so quickly.

To all the freshman and underclassman out there, here’s a bit of advice from a senior who has loved her time here and couldn’t have had a better experience:

1.Get Involved and Seek Out An Opportunity If You’re Interested In It

Go to Miami MAP events, join organizations, and take on leadership roles. Try new things and get involved; there are so many organizations here on campus! I joined a business fraternity my freshman year and it has MADE my Miami experience what it is today. I found my best friends and really grew as a person. Meet the B-orgs was my ticket to finding my place here on campus becoming more involved. I encourage everyone to find a club you love and get involved!

2.Make Meaningful Connections and Follow Through

Whether it be friends, professors, or faculty, reach out and take the time to meet and  get to know these wonderful people. I gained amazing mentors through asking questions and staying in touch. Professors here want to get to know their students and you’ll quickly find out, it’s pretty cool to get to know them too. I still say hello to my favorite freshman year marketing professor in the halls and another favorite professor from the Adweek trip I went on, we catch up regularly. I also have always felt at home in Farmer due to two amazing bosses in FSB Careers. Not only have they helped guide me and encouraged me to find what I am passionate about and the perfect job to fit it, but they have also been great mentors and people to talk life with. Talking and meeting with people in FSB has allowed me to network with even more people and to always have a friendly face to say hi to on campus.

3.Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, A Rejection Opens the Door to a New Opportunity

It’s challenging to get a rejection from a club, internship, or full-time offer. But, it happens! Do not wallow. Take it as a sign and keep moving forward. Everything happens for a reason and the next opportunity is right around the corner. Had I not had my fair share of no’s – I surely wouldn’t be leaving Miami with a job that I was truly passionate about and that fit better with my skills and passions.

4.Find Your Passion and Own It

Love what you do and do what you love. If this means adding a minor that you’re interested in but don’t know what you want to do with it – ADD IT. I added an Interactive Media Studies minor and my love for graphic design has skyrocketed. It became my creative outlet and my passion project.

5.Don’t Take These 4 Years for Granted – It Goes By Way Too Fast

When you’re a freshman the seniors will say to you something along the lines of, “Have fun, don’t blink. I was a freshman just yesterday.” I feel these sentiments completely. I came to Miami without any idea of how much an impact that the people and this little town would have on me.

My experience at Farmer and at Miami has been amazing. I have learned so much and gained friends and mentors that will last a lifetime. Oxford became my home and the people I met became my family. I can not wait to be a proud alum of the best school out there. Love and Honor.

How to Network with Faculty

One of the greatest resources available to students in the Farmer School of Business is the faculty. They can help you with your classwork, but they can also help you with life after college. The faculty of FSB have a huge amount of connections and knowledge in different industries, and they always love to help students out and give advice. Below is a list of tips to help you develop connections with your professors!

• Start with an informational interview about their career, or ask for help outside of class. Go to office hours and talk to them in class or make appointments to see them if they aren’t your professor. This is a great time to tell them what you are interested in and see what advice they have for you.

• Treat them as a professional. It is important to remember that they have years of experience and connections, and not to approach them as you would a friend you’re passing by on the street. Use professional formats when emailing and communicating with them, and talk to them with respect.

• Ask your professors how best to utilize what you learned in class in an interview. For example, if you are taking a sales class, you could ask to do a mock interview with them in sales.

• Keep in touch with past professors. You can do this by dropping by their offices, or scheduling a time to meet. Past professors can be a great resource, and they already know what your strengths and weaknesses are.

• Do not assume they will help you. Be gracious for any advice they give you. The faculty is not there to find you a job, but is there to guide you towards success.

• If a faculty member reaches out to someone for you, ALWAYS respond. Follow their lead with where the conversation is going, whether they are giving you advice on how to enter the industry or offering you an opportunity to do so where they work.

By: Grace Hoffmann

With only one week left until Thanksgiving break, I can’t help but to think about how quickly we are approaching J-Term! Fall semester exam week ends on December 15th and the first day of classes for spring semester is January 28th — How do you plan on spending those 6 weeks?! Don’t spend the entire break on the couch —  make your J-Term count! There are so many awesome opportunities through Miami and even more you can set up and do on your own. J-term is a great time to better yourself professionally and experience new things. Below are some ideas for J-term:

• Study Abroad

Miami offers many J-term study abroad ventures. Check them out on the website. If the application has closed, keep them in mind for next year; they may have different, more exciting ones too!

• Cincinnati Immersion Week

The Cincinnati Immersion Week this year is from January 14-18th. It connects Miami students with Cincinnati based companies and employers. These company visits give students the ability to learn more about different industries and different companies. The week includes meeting with executives, associates, and recent graduates of Fortune 500 companies.  Check out the website for more information! The deadline for the application is December 1st.

• Take a Class

J-Term is a great time to get ahead of your studies and stay on campus and take classes. Or, take classes online and lessen your course load for spring semester.

• Informational Interviews

Are you interested in working for a certain company? Send an email or connect with your network to do a day of shadowing! Through an informational interview you will be able to learn more about the company, position, career outlook, and the person you are interviewing.

• Update your resume, LinkedIn, and Handshake

With free time on your hands, take time to update your resume. Add in semester or internship experience. Create multiple resumes if you have a desire to apply to jobs that differ from one another. Fully complete your profile on LinkedIn and Handshake and showcase all of your classes, work experience, and skills!

• Work

J-Term is a great time to make money at your job at home. Reach out to your past employer and see if they need help over your break!

There are many, many more items could be added to the list. Don’t be bored over J-term!

By Aleah Sexton

Navigating your career may seem daunting, especially when there are so many moving parts. Networking seems to be the core of the career strategy, and LinkedIn is your best friend throughout the process. People are mostly willing to hop on a phone call or message back with their perspective and advice on approaching their company. However, you have to make sure you’re reaching out the right way. LinkedIn is your best friend in networking, and these tips will ensure you’re able to build your network.

1. Do your research! LinkedIn makes it easy to find exactly who you’re looking for. In the search bar, you can type in the name of the company you’re looking for, and Miami University to see which alumni work at the company. You can do the same thing for professional fraternities, sororities, or clubs to add a bit more connection when you reach out to a specific contact.
2. Include a message when you ask the contact to connect. This gives the contact a bit of background on why you’re asking to be a part of their network.
3. In the message, it’s important that you ask for help, and don’t try to pitch yourself. You can speak on your credentials later on once you’ve built a relationship with the contact. To begin, make sure the message is about your desire to learn from the contact.
4. It’s smart to keep the message sweet and simple. Start by introducing yourself, and then state why you admire the company. Finish the message by asking for their availability to possibly speak further on a phone call. End the message by giving your thanks!
5. After the phone call, make sure to ask for their email to thank them for their time.
6. Once an initial relationship has been built, don’t be afraid to ask your contact to look over your resume or provide tips as you go through the recruiting process. If you touch base with them every so often, they’ll be more likely to recommend your name to HR.  

When you reach out to different people, it helps if you’re energetic and passionate about the company. Do your research on their position so you can ask meaningful questions beyond their daily work. Good luck!

By Grace Hoffman

In a world where you can order your groceries online, be given recommendations based on past Amazon orders, and connect with past friends across the world, you should be networking online! Digital networking – or the act of using online sites or apps to converse and network with peers or professionals – is vital!

Every heard of LinkedIn? Let’s hope so! But, have you heard of or used the Alumni Tool on LinkedIn?

Alumni Tool – LinkedIn

The Alumni Tool is a great resource to see where alumni from your university are working or in what industry they are. The alumni tool allows you to see which alumni are at each company and therefore, you can connect with them.

For more information on the Alumni Tool – check out this article written on Business Insider.

• ‘Cold’ Messaging
  • Cold messaging is a great way to connect with someone on LinkedIn. Cold messaging is contacting and direct messaging a person on LinkedIn without having spoken to them before. This is a great way to ask about their position or to try to set up an opportunity to speak with them.
  • Ask if you can schedule an informational interview with them!
    • Sample questions to ask during an informational interview.
• Storytelling
  • Storytelling in the business world involves how you tell your story to connect your experiences with a current position or company.
  • This could be used when initially discussing your experience with someone you meet through LinkedIn.

Miami Alumni Connect

Miami Alumni Connect is an online network for Miami alumni and students to connect. The platform allows for students to reach out to past alumni and talk with them about their time at Miami and their current job.

• Find a mentor
  • Through joining Miami Alumni Connect, students can connect with alumni in their field and find a mentor. You can be involved in “flash mentoring” and set up a 30 minute call or also keep the same mentor for over the course of 12 weeks!
• Connect post graduation
  • For alumni, you are able to talk with fellow Miami graduates and connect. Open positions at companies can also be posted on Miami Connect.

Cardinal Rules of Networking:

• Ask questions to learn, not to get employed
  • Do not reach out to someone and think that they can get you a job automatically. Form a relationship with them and get to know them and what qualities they possess.
• Don’t be pushy
  • Be kind and ask questions when networking. Being too aggressive will come off poorly with a recruiter and a person you have never met before.
• Be honest
  • When networking, explain what you’re really looking for in a position. Be honest about your schooling and graduation date.
• Reciprocate
  • Networking is not just one way. In order to help yourself, you should be helping others. You never know who might be helping you to find a new job, so help others too!

For another great read, check out “Job Searching: Why Networking and Referrals need to be your Top Priority.”

Additional Resources:

https://idealistcareers.org/digital-networking/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/06/19/how-to-network-in-todays-digital-world/#67e438bf499b

https://social.hays.com/2017/10/03/6-things-need-know-networking-online/

https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/tips-for-social-networking-online

https://www.careerfaqs.com.au/news/news-and-views/five-rules-for-good-networking-etiquette

By: Grace Hoffmann

Knowing how to effectively communicate is a critical skill in our academic pursuits, our personal lives, and specifically, in the workplace. Communication is more than just talking with one another; communication is delivering information between groups of people or organizations through many different mediums. Although communication may seem simple, in order to be effective, you must be aware of the many connected components of communication.

Components of Communication in the Workplace

According to an article on The Balance written by Susan Heathfield, “there are five components to any communication and a sixth that is the overall environment of the workplace in which the communication takes place.” The five components include: the individual sending the message, the context for the message, the person receiving the message, the delivery method you choose, and the actual content of the message. Here is a brief breakdown of each component.

The sender: This is the person sending the message to the receiver. The sender should have a clear message that the receiver will understand. When acting as the sender, be sure to include enough details for the receiver, but do not include pointless information that will confuse the receiver.  

The context for the message: Why is the message being sent? What has happened, good or bad, that caused the message to be sent? In present day, with a vast majority of communication being online, the background behind the message is important to know in order to fully understand the circumstances regarding the information and to appropriately reply. When the message is given in person, look for non verbal cues such as gestures or body language in order to gain background on the message.

The receiver: The receiver receives the message from the sender. The receiver must listen, read, or view the message fully and carefully in order to obtain the information it contains. When acting as the receiver, be sure to ask questions if you are confused. Obtain clarification on any abnormalities. According to the Balance article, “if the receiver trusts the sender, the chances for effective communication increase.”  

The delivery method: When choosing the delivery method, think about how the message will be best communicated between the sender and receiver. Delivery methods could include in-person, email, text message, or written documents. All mediums are effective when used in appropriate settings. If using newer communication methods, both parties should be able to have access to it and have used in the past in order for the message to be effective and clear.

The content: What is being said? The content of the message should be clear and specific to the receiver. The content should resonate with the receiver.

Each of these components works together in order for a message to be appropriate and to be conveyed effectively. The article, “The Power of Good Communication in the Workplace,” by  Mikelle Despain, lists benefits of good communication in the workplace such as: mitigating conflict, increasing employee engagement, better client relationships, and a more talented and productive workforce.

As summer approaches and we begin preparing for the start of our internship or full time job, be aware of how you are communicating and make sure to consider each of the components of communication in the workplace in order to be a more effective communicator!

Sources:

https://www.thebalance.com/communication-in-the-workplace-1918089

https://leadershipchoice.com/power-good-communication-workplace/