Need to improve networking skills, FAST --- Please Help!!!
So, I literally just started networking after a virtual finance trek at my school. I got to meet a lot of alumni in never high places and have set up call with many of them. However, as I have been networking with upperclass man and analyst. One of the recommendations that gave me is that I become more coherent and make it more like a conversation. Most of the time I don't have and question for them aside from the general questions. Im also not well spoken when I'm nervous.
Also how do I go about a call, most of my calls go like this
- Say high and is this xyz and how are you.
Now after this do I jump in an introduce my self with an elevator pitch or should I say, I guess I should introduce myself and then take the conversation from there.
- I spoke with an Alumni who told me I should read up on it because, she thinks my skills can really improve if I work at it.
I am kind of antisocial because I was homeschooled and go to an introverted school. I really do try, it is just I can only seem to connect with people who are either close to my age or have similar interest to me.
But I need to do this fast over the next week and weekend because Monday I have a call with the man who is in charge of recruiting for Goldman at my school and I really want to make a good impression, but most of my call just seem to be random questions and lots of filler words.
Please any help is greatly appreciated and no mean comments unless they are relevant to this. Thanks!
I really want to do better!
Be a person
I'm still trying to work on myself but this is something I do:
I go to their LinkedIn and look for something significant about them. It could be work-related or something else but I make sure it's not something that I know everyone will have asked them already.
As the first commenter said, you have to be a person. I try to get them to laugh or get them to be comfortable. E.g. if I'm speaking to a girl, I could talk about her hair and how nice it is and we can just start talking about hair products etc. As a guy (I assume you are), figure out what you guys talk about and make sure you input not just "yeah, mm-hmm".
Then talk about their firm etc. Non-generic though. And make it about them too. They'll talk on and on. Listen and pick up stuff and ask them about that stuff to show you've been listening.
Try to make it short. But sometimes, use your initiative. The person may be enjoying himself, so... figure it out.
Wrap up with something memorable. I'm a huge book lover so I try to give and receive book recommendations (nothing Finance please. Too boring). Plus points if the person loves fiction like me.
Bonus tip: I love to connect with people from my background and at the beginning of the conversation, I start with that. Boy, you need to see the things people spill once they have someone with a similar background that's willing to listen to them.
Overall, just be you. Don't be weird on the screen but don't be too conscious that you forget to have an actual conversation. Remember that practice makes perfect. I shudder when I remember my earliest conversations.
I'd like to see what others think because I'm still a newbie lol. Good luck!
Vero qui aut sequi veniam dignissimos id. Quia odit aut commodi. Ab omnis id libero voluptas eum dolores in.
Et autem quam aut quisquam. Atque ab voluptatum dolor in consectetur possimus voluptas. Est asperiores aut hic est est.
Dolor consectetur aperiam dolorem est qui quibusdam. Sunt esse amet esse dolor. Sed maxime quidem iure in.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...