1 st GM: Networking Tips and Dinner Etiquette

1. 1st GM: Networking Tips and Dinner Etiquette With Laura Santo and Jaimie Irvine from Turner Construction Co.

2. Main goals tonight: • To prepare you for upcoming networking events • Spring Evening with Industry • Viterbi Career Fair • Familiarize you with important tips useful in your future career

3. SWE updates • Accenture corporate luncheon – Fri Feb 1 • Career Fair Prep – Wed Jan 30 • Spring Evening with Industry – Wed Feb 6 • Big/Lil Mentorship Program • Scholarships

4. Accenture Corporate Luncheon • Friday February 1, 12:30-1:30pm • Sign ups (with $10 deposit) in RTH 210 to Maggie • Open to all majors and years • Great for intimate networking! • Email Ashlyn at affelt@usc.edu if any questions • FB link: https://www.facebook.com/events/401531953266344/?context=create

5. Career Fair Prep: Resume Do's & Don'ts • We will have a SWE alumni panel & resume workshop. • First event of the Big/Lil Sib Mentorship Program, but ALL are welcomed!  • Date: Wednesday, Jan 30th • Time: 7-8:30 • Location: GFS 116 • FB: http://www.facebook.com/events/120698894771752/?notif_t=plan_user_joined

6. Spring Evening with Industry Location: The Radisson Grand Ballroom Date: Wednesday, February 6th, 2013 Time: 6-8pm Current list of companies include (but are not limited to): Intel, Deloitte Consulting, Microsoft, Qualcomm, Kiewit Construction, Aera Energy, eBay, Turner Construction, CIA, SAIC, and Eaton. Timeline: Mon., Jan 28th: Student registration opens. To fully register you must (1) sign up on Google doc to be given out in next newsletter, (2) give $20 deposit (will be returned when you attend SEWI) to Maggie in CED, (3) sign up for one company for dinner and one for dessert, also in CED. Fri., Feb 1st: Student registration period is closed. FB: https://www.facebook.com/events/405201759562898/?context=create

7. Big/lil Mentorship program • Big/Little Sib Mentorship Program - If you didn't apply by Jan 27th, please email Tricia at cenxu@usc.edu. • If you did, you should've gotten an email by the GM. • If not, please email Tricia at cenxu@usc.edu.

8. Scholarships • SWE-LA scholarship due Feb 22 • Download from sweusc.com under ‘About’  ‘Scholarships’

9. Networking tips and dinner etiquette

10. Workshop Aims • What to wear? • Researching companies before career fair • Elevator pitch & introductions • Following up & staying in contact • Cocktail hour • Dinner etiquette & table talk

11. What to wear?

12. What to Wear? • What is appropriate to wear in settings such as: information sessions, career fairs, interviews, coffee or brunch with a company representative? • What qualifies as too short and too tight? • Is it ever appropriate to wear bright colors to meet a representative? • What is the appropriate heel height of shoes?

13. Business Casual • Appropriate for Career Fairs, Information Sessions, Networking Nights, Coffees, etc. • What is Business Casual? • Blouse or Cardigan Set • Slacks • Heels or Flats

14. Bright Colors • Every outfit can use a spot of color! Be sure to partner the color with a neutral suit or pair of slacks. • Color can be incorporated by: • Blouse under suit jacket • Jewelry – necklace or bracelet • Not your eye make-up!

15. Appropriate shoes - Do these stilettos make my IQ look higher? • No higher than 3 inches • No flashy metallic or studded shoes

16. Researching companies

17. Researching Companies • Get an overview of what the company does • (wiki is okay only as an overview) • Go to the company’s website • Look for mission statement • Know what they are looking for • Know what you are looking for

18. Researching Companies • Search recent articles about the company • NYT • WSJ • Washington Post • Acquisition History / Division History • See how the company interacts with themselves and other companies to show the direction they are trying to move

19. Elevator Pitch Source: http://www.salisbury.edu/careerservices/Students/Interviews/60secondElevator.html

20. What is an “Elevator Pitch • concise, carefully planned, and well-practiced description about you • make a powerful first impression • Should describe why someone should work with you

21. Essential Elements of a Powerful Elevator Pitch • Concise. Your pitch should take no longer than 30-60 seconds. • Clear. Don't use fancy words thinking it will make you sound smarter. You’ll lose your opportunity to hook them. • Powerful. Use words that are powerful and strong. • Visual. Use words that create a memorable visual image in your listeners mind. • Targeted. If you target different audiences, you might want to have a unique pitch for each. • Goal Oriented.Pitch is designed with a specific outcome that may differ depending on objectives. • Has a Hook. Snag your listener's interest and makes them want to know more.  • A Request. At the end of your pitch, you must ask for something.

22. How to Craft Your Killer Elevator Pitch • Write down what you do.  • Write down your objective or goal.  • Write 10-20 action statements.  • Record yourself.  • Let it sit.  • Highlight the good stuff.  • Put the best pieces together.  • Record these new ones. • Do a final edit cutting as many unnecessary words as possible. • Dress Rehearsal.  • Done for now.  • Continue to improve. 

23. Following up & staying in contact

24. Following up • Be sure to send thank you email day of, or following day • Don’t be afraid to follow up about a specific position that interests you

25. Staying in touch • Add via Linked in • Build the relationship before you need anything • "Strong candidates cultivate good relationships with recruiters when they are NOT looking for a job so that they can get help when they are." • Recognizing the recruiter at future networking events could have a very positive effect Source: http://www.cnbc.com/id/40417403/How_To_Stay_In_Touch_With_Recruiters

26. Cocktail Hour Learn how to make the most out of cocktail hour

27. What you should do • Cocktail hour is the time for casual networking • Have a warm presence • Smile! • Look interested in the conversation • Maintain eye-contact and a firm handshake • Be relaxed, don’t cross your arms • Actively scan the crowd for anyone you may know or want to speak to

28. Starting/Joining a Conversation • Have conversation openers prepared • Example: “Hi! My name is …. and I noticed you work for … . I’d love to learn more about the opportunities at ….” • Ask questions that are not only “yes/no” questions. This can lead to dead end conversations. • If you want to join an ongoing conversation, wait for a natural break in the conversation or politely say, “I don’t mean to interrupt, but I just wanted to introduce myself…”

29. Don’t do this: • Go straight for the recruiter surrounded by the most people. Wait until it clears up and then approach. Longer and more genuine conversations are more memorable. • Spend too much time eating. This cuts into the networking time. Eat before if you are famished. • Hide in the corner of the room. Get out of your comfort zone and start a conversation with a recruiter. They’re there to speak to you!

30. Other points • Show your personality! While this is the time to make connections, it is important to show there is more to you than just academics. This also helps to form a relationship with the recruiter. • Dress up, but be tasteful. A business dress or a pantsuit with a few (bold) accessories is common. • Don’t let nerves get the best of you. Recruiters don’t bite! • Have fun :D

31. Dinner etiquette and table talk

32. Dinner Etiquette • Stay off your phone • Don’t eat before the recruiters do. • Don’t eat until everyone at the table has gotten their food • Personal belongings off the table • Try eating small bites so that you can concentrate and participate the conversation better • Napkin on your lap

33. Table Talk • Come to the table with some sort of goal of what you want to learn in mind • Recruiters are people too (aka other topics besides their job are okay) • Prepare questions for the recruiter • Don’t dominate the table • Don’t talk too much about yourself so that you can have a chance to listen • Think before you speak

34. Questions?