I recently went with a small group of students to a Cleveland area PRSA conference, about 90 minutes away from our college campus. We all cleared our schedules for the whole day, completed our tests or homework in advance, and set out on our adventure at a very early 6:30 on a Friday morning. We were all members of Tiffin University’s Communications Club, heading off to our first conference and networking event.
Sounds idyllic, right?
We were excited to see what types of sessions would be offered and even more so about the opportunity to meet people within the industry. Once there, we claimed an entire row so that all of our group could sit together for the first session. Each session was chock-full of practical advice, tips and trips, and how-to guides- my notebook filled up rather quickly. I was especially impressed with some of the social media policies and practices of the Eaton Corporation.
I made a mental note to make a beeline toward one panelist ASAP.
Finally the morning sessions were completed and we were invited to mingle with the other students, panelists, speakers, and organizers of the conference before the luncheon and keynote speaker. I chatted with the other students from my school, while scanning the crowd for the panelist that I had really wanted to speak with. One of my friends was shaking her head vehemently. I wasn’t sure what she was doing, so I asked if she was okay. She admitted that she was terrified and did not feel comfortable introducing herself to anyone at the conference, let alone a stranger.
I was stunned.
I’m a bit of a social butterfly, so I’ve never had trouble introducing myself to others and I’ve never met a stranger. With all of us having majors in Communications, I had just assumed that everyone would be able to work the crowd with ease. After a few more questions, I realized that five of the seven students were planning on just sticking with each other. I sighed in frustration, but spotted the panelist I had been searching for out of the corner of my eye. I gave them a wave as I weaved my way through the crowd.
Sounds like a missed opportunity for those students, wouldn’t you say?
I’ll admit that I thought so too. Then I realized something. Not everyone has the same background. Not everyone has the same type of knowledge. Not everyone knows how to mingle and make small talk. And you know what?
Not everyone has all the answers.
Fast forward one week. After making a few phone calls, sending a few emails, and chatting with a few relevant professionals, our students are going to have several networking opportunities that they would have NEVER been offered before. Our Communications Club will be hosting workshop/networking sessions each month during our spring semester that will teach students how to mingle, how to network, how to make small talk, and how present themselves in the best light.
Not only that, but we’re inviting several different local colleges to attend.
Sounds idyllic, right?
We were excited to see what types of sessions would be offered and even more so about the opportunity to meet people within the industry. Once there, we claimed an entire row so that all of our group could sit together for the first session. Each session was chock-full of practical advice, tips and trips, and how-to guides- my notebook filled up rather quickly. I was especially impressed with some of the social media policies and practices of the Eaton Corporation.
I made a mental note to make a beeline toward one panelist ASAP.
Finally the morning sessions were completed and we were invited to mingle with the other students, panelists, speakers, and organizers of the conference before the luncheon and keynote speaker. I chatted with the other students from my school, while scanning the crowd for the panelist that I had really wanted to speak with. One of my friends was shaking her head vehemently. I wasn’t sure what she was doing, so I asked if she was okay. She admitted that she was terrified and did not feel comfortable introducing herself to anyone at the conference, let alone a stranger.
I was stunned.
I’m a bit of a social butterfly, so I’ve never had trouble introducing myself to others and I’ve never met a stranger. With all of us having majors in Communications, I had just assumed that everyone would be able to work the crowd with ease. After a few more questions, I realized that five of the seven students were planning on just sticking with each other. I sighed in frustration, but spotted the panelist I had been searching for out of the corner of my eye. I gave them a wave as I weaved my way through the crowd.
Sounds like a missed opportunity for those students, wouldn’t you say?
I’ll admit that I thought so too. Then I realized something. Not everyone has the same background. Not everyone has the same type of knowledge. Not everyone knows how to mingle and make small talk. And you know what?
Not everyone has all the answers.
Fast forward one week. After making a few phone calls, sending a few emails, and chatting with a few relevant professionals, our students are going to have several networking opportunities that they would have NEVER been offered before. Our Communications Club will be hosting workshop/networking sessions each month during our spring semester that will teach students how to mingle, how to network, how to make small talk, and how present themselves in the best light.
Not only that, but we’re inviting several different local colleges to attend.
Not only will these students learn more about their chosen fields, but they’ll be able to get more practice with talking to new people. Instead of looking at the experience as a loss, we’re turning it in to a positive experience that will benefit a much larger number of students.
Then again...
maybe you should ask me again next semester after those workshops.
Wouldn’t want to count my chickens before they hatch,
a scrambled egg doesn’t feed nearly as many people as a whole bird!
Then again...
maybe you should ask me again next semester after those workshops.
Wouldn’t want to count my chickens before they hatch,
a scrambled egg doesn’t feed nearly as many people as a whole bird!
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