From Nerves to Networking: How to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
- Summer Poet418
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
By Julia Wojcik
Talking to people, especially professionals in their fields, is a daunting task, especially if you’ve never experienced it. That’s why the Career Development Center hosted its Networking 101 event, a hands-on workshop designed to teach the fundamentals of professional networking in a casual and comfortable setting.
Jessica Mazzia DeLong, associate director of the Career Development Center, opened the event by introducing what networking really means and why it can be useful for students and professionals alike.
“These types of events are important because they are here, meaning it’s accessible and on campus,” said DeLong. "It's important to take advantage of meeting new people, learning new ideas, and being comfortable in different environments.”
The event relied on students and professionals walking around the room and simply interacting with each other. There was no set theme or topic they were supposed to talk about - whatever inspired them in the moment sufficed. For instance, Caroline Baum, a former financial journalist and columnist for Bloomberg, MarketWatch and Dow Jones, spoke about her journey and how she ended up in the journalism field to inspire prospective students interested in that career.
Baum emphasized the fact that events like this should be greatly appreciated, especially since back in the day, “it was very difficult to call up people out of the blue, that you only had a name and think, 'Oh God, is this not a good time.’ People who love what they do love talking about it.”
Yet, if the conversations were not flowing, students were encouraged to use the conversation starters provided by the Career Development Center to get some inspiration on subjects to discuss with their mentors.
Students continued the mock networking sessions by asking questions of mentors and employer participants, who offered feedback on communication style and body language. “The first handshake is crucial. It's the first impression someone will have of you,” recommended Victor Metsch, a commercial litigator of counsel at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.
In addition to these helpful tips, students used this event to prepare for their future, as they looked ahead to the world beyond the Purchase Campus. “I want to learn more about what happens after college because, as a senior, that’s really important to me,” said Victor Vyssotski, an economics and mathematics/computer science major. “So far, it’s a great environment. People are very nice and I’ve gotten a few LinkedIn profiles already. Super welcoming, there are snacks here, and there’s always enough to do, you’ll shake someone’s hand and get to meet someone new!”
The event continued with laughter-filled conversations until the end, but with a promise of future events in the spring and the following fall semesters. Students are encouraged to connect with mentors through the Alumni Network online platform and check out Broadview Connect, a club that bridges the gap between students and Broadview residents.