Here's my Card, Call me Maybe?

“Here’s my card,” I answer, as I smoothly reach into my left pocket and pull out a stainless steel cardholder. I flip open the top and swiftly slide out a card. I smile politely, handing off my personal identifier to what could be my future employer. I take note of the facial expressions; the eyebrows slightly arch, pulling the forehead muscles together and the head gives a faint nod of approval. I can tell they’re impressed. Mission accomplished, I think to myself. With a brief shake of the hand and soft smile to bid farewell, I turn and walk the other way playing it off as though I've worked in this field for years.

Business cards are an easy and cheap yet professional and powerful marketing tool. As I pointed out in a previous blog post, and as I’m sure you've been told a thousand times already, it’s not what you know but who you know. Keeping track of individuals you've met and allowing them to have a tangible item in return that explains you is the best method for networking. Business cards are convenient. Plus, handing a stranger a resume on a plane or at a sporting event in hopes of gaining an ‘in’ with the individual is quite comical and inappropriate.

Now you’re probably thinking, why do I need a business card? What would it even say? Just because you don’t have a full time job or internship, doesn't mean you shouldn't have a business card. As a busy student constantly engaging in new activities and meeting new people along the way, college is the perfect time to start creating a professional network. Business cards assist in branding yourself while making successful connections. It can be as short and sweet as name, major, email, phone number, and expected graduation date. Don’t feel embarrassed or uncomfortable if there is no real substance to your card; your basic contact information is all it takes to obtain a connection. Look at it this way: If you didn’t have a business card and someone asks for your contact information, would you be more or less embarrassed scribbling it down on a nearby napkin or scrap piece of paper?

Business cards are the perfect supplement to a great first impression and make you appear more professional. Vistaprint is a great place to order your first business cards; you can even get basic designs free of charge (and no, Vistaprint is not paying me for including them in this post). Just remember to use a solid email address, not your school one. What happens after you graduate and start making more professional connections? Once you receive them, carry them with you at all times. You never know where you might run into someone of interest.

Share your contact information, network, and start establishing your personal brand. Get a hold of some business cards, as soon as possible, and enjoy the impressed responses you’ll receive from potential employers.

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Introducing Yourself to Success

Your heart races and palms begin to sweat as you’re overcome with an adrenaline rush coated with embarrassment and stupidity. You awkwardly ask the person you’ve met previously how they’re doing, and hope they can’t tell you failed to uphold one of the most basic business etiquette principles: you forgot their name. The conversation is forced as you struggle to come up with the name and how you’ve met them...no luck.

There are methods that can be used to save yourself, but the biggest priority should be making sure it doesn’t happen again. The importance of remembering someone’s name when you meet him or her can be critical, especially in today’s increasingly competitive world of business. Remembering a name allows you to come across as a more professional and reliable individual; not to mention, nearly everyone likes hearing the sound of his or her name.

Half the time, as we’re meeting someone for the first time, we stress about giving a firm handshake or worry about what to say next, only concerned with introducing ourselves. I confidently go for the handshake, reminding myself of what to say next. “Hi, I’m PK,” I say proudly. Then we tend to think about how firm of a handshake it was, whether or not we gave off a great first impression, or even criticize their handshake (your hand may be throbbing from an aggressive shake or you laugh to yourself because of how dainty it felt). At this point, the other person has already introduced his or herself and you just smile politely, now beating yourself up inside because you completely missed their name. 

Listen, relax, and just like shampooing your hair, repeat! Repeat the person’s name. This could be in your head, but make sure to say it once more aloud and in a less menacing voice than Anna Faris. Maybe ask how it is spelled or if there is any cultural history behind it. Even attach the person’s name to an image. Attaching memory cues to the name is going to help with memorization since our mind learns through images, actions, and emotions, as opposed to verbal cues.

If you find yourself struggling, don’t panic. You can still pull out your bag of tricks to redeem yourself. Try introducing a third party whose name you DO know. Hopefully, the mystery person will reintroduce him or herself, saving you from an awkward encounter. If it is someone you met at a networking event or less than two times, reintroduce yourself and recognize the previous encounter. “Hi, I’m PK. I believe we met before.” Chances are they’re facing the same dilemma as you and will greatly appreciate the easy out you just provided. Another approach is to just skip the introduction all together and ask them how they are doing. They may sense you forgot their name, but will not be able to prove it unless they directly ask. Just remember, NEVER commit to a name unless you’re positive; otherwise, congratulations, you just took part in the epitome of an awkward situation.

The next time you’re introducing yourself try and truly relax, listen to what they have to say, and repeat their name. This could make or break any possible job opportunities, reflect poorly or positively on your professionalism, and worst or best of all, generate that inner sense of disappointment or achievement in yourself.

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Networking With Your Peers

It’s the first day of class, and there are two types of situations the average person finds themselves in, regardless of their year in school. 

One: You walk in, hoping you’ll see a friend you recognize. No luck. You contemplate where to sit. First row screams suck up; last row implies you’re a slacker. You slowly slip into the nearest seat in the middle row, hoping no one noticed the little debacle that just took place in your head. You attempt to pay attention to the professor, take a few notes, all the while thinking about your plans for the night. Your stomach begins to rumble and by the time class has ended your notebook is filled with a few doodles and you bolt out of the classroom without saying one word. 

The second scenario: You walk in, sit by a friend, and manage to briefly catch up between the doodles and the hunger pains. The rest of the scenario stays the same, but instead, the two of you bolt out of the door together without interacting with any of the other students in the classroom.

What you didn’t realize before you fled from the room to grab that Chick-Fil-A sandwich is the person sitting in front of you, just so happens to work for the Tampa Bay Lightning, your dream internship. Did I mention the person behind you is the recruitment chair for the fraternity you are interested in? Oh, and your professor worked for Apple before choosing to teach at UT and has more than enough connections to get you a full-time job after graduation. The point is we go to class because we have to. I’m guilty of it too. Do you really think I want to sit through two accounting classes as an International Business and Marketing major? But since we have to attend class to receive that prestigious degree, why not make the most of the time in class? Interact with your peers. Networking does not just mean meeting professionals in your field of study. Take advantage of your college experience, and get to know people!

I would not have received any internship positions if I just went through the motions in class. Luckily, I took SPE 208 early on with Dr. Callahan, who emphasized the importance of networking with your peers. So the next time your stomach is making creepy noises that you’re hoping no one can hear; take the time to introduce yourself to individuals in the class, and even meet with the professor afterwards. The cliché saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” has a lot of substance to it; however, I like to think of it as, who you know may get you the job, but what you know will allow you to maintain the position and work your way up. Remember a balance between knowing people and knowing the material is the key to being successful.