No matter how often one puts it off, or, like me, tries to ignore it, there comes a point in everyone’s life when one must don a cap and gown and graduate from college. However, here to make that impending transition significantly less terrifying is the Trinity University Career Services office, at your service.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Career Services will host the Networking Etiquette Workshop””Connecting with High Impact, led by professional career coach Barbara Greene, to prepare students for the San Antonio Making Connections event on Thursday, Sept. 19.
“I’m helping students prepare for the alumni connections event two days later, but this kind of work session will help them no matter where they go,” Greene said. “I’m not a talking head””it’s about engaging and interacting, so I’m going to have alumni teams there to help students practice.”
Located in the Storch lobby, the Connecting with High Impact session begins at 6 p.m. and will last about 45 minutes. Participants will go through a series of simulated activities which they will practice in real time with Trinity alums.
“They’re going to learn what I call “˜breaking and entering,’ which is how you go into a conversation when there’s two people talking, and I’m going to teach them how to do that in a way that’s professional and comfortable,” Greene said. “I’m getting them ready; everything’s an interview and everything’s a presentation, every time you talk with somebody. My goal is to increase the students’ confidence levels in connecting and communicating with people they don’t know and to learn what is out there and how they can help.”
On Thursday, students have the opportunity to apply what they learned through the High Impact Workshop at the Making Connections event. Beginning at 6 p.m. and located in the Skyline Bistro on the second floor of the Coates University Center, Making Connections is a chance for students to meet anywhere from 75 to 125 Trinity alums from all different industries working in the San Antonio area.
“For first years and sophomores, the goal of the event is to connect students with alumni so that students can explore careers,” said director of Career Services Twyla Hough. “For sophomores and juniors, the goal is to connect students with alumni to explore information about internships. Then for the seniors, the goal is to get advice and contacts that are beneficial to their job search, as well as getting information about strong graduate programs that Trinity people have attended in the past.”
The first part of the event involves general networking, in which students meet with different alumni and find out about the alums’ careers and connections. Throughout the second part, alums will be organized by their respective industries, so students have the opportunity to narrow down their interests. The four industries include the social sciences, arts and humanities, business and science and technology. Finally, Chad Haan ’98, co-founder of Square One Solutions, will give a keynote address.
“It’s the easiest way to get your foot in the door for any plans you have outside of school related to internships or jobs, because if there isn’t someone necessarily directly involved with something you want to get involved in, it is likely they know someone who can get you where you want to go,” said senior Hillary Everts. “By creating that initial relationship with them, you have a better chance of getting where you want to end up.”
