The Network Like a Rockstar event gave students the chance to practice their networking skills with real current employers in a low-stakes, pressure-free environment. It was intended to encourage students to feel comfortable putting themselves out there and meeting employers for the next time they have a job interview or professional job meeting.
A number of organizations collaborated to host this event on March 4th in the UIS Student Union Ballroom, including the UIS Office of Engaged Learning, International Student Services, and Necessary Steps.
Networking Like a Rockstar: Networking 101 began with students developing their elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a 30-60 second speech, introducing yourself, your background, and your skills.
To warm students up to a difficult task like talking to employers, the groups of students began by giving their elevator pitches to their peers. To aid each other in this task, each group member not only gave their own pitch but also read their peers’ elevator pitches out loud to help identify any flaws or areas of improvement.
Students then spoke with current employers and hiring managers in various fields of work, including technology, finance, business, and social services. Students rotated in groups to give their elevator pitches to multiple employers.
Before the event, UIS student Damini felt very nervous about talking to employers, but after talking to such a variety of people she said that feeling had changed.
“Before starting this event, I had a confidence level of around a five, but after talking to one or two people and then after completing a whole round, I was around an eight. I’m very confident enough right now that I can handle it,’ said Damini.
This event was not only a learning experience for students in attendance, but also for the employers. Hunter Newbold, a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual in Springfield, came in expecting a scripted event but found a more authentic, human experience that emphasized connection.
“My original take was it was going to be very much roleplay and scripted, but when I actually sat down with the students, none of it felt that way. It was as if they were just telling their story, it felt very natural,” Newbold said.
The event ended in a group discussion with all the employers and students coming together to discuss areas to improve, and a consensus agreement on what is truly important with events like this. Many of the employers shared how they appreciated the bravery and courage it takes for a student to attend an event like this, as all the discussions felt very natural.
One area singled out for improvement dealt with what information you prioritize when networking. Participants agreed that students should say what they’ve experienced, and what they bring to the table, but also why they do it, so employers can further understand you.
The group of employers and students left this event emphasizing how important it is for networking to not be too professional but rather finding that balance of professionalism and casual conversation. Sometimes answering a question like what is your favorite food, can mean just as much as answering questions about your work experience.
