We have all seen the adult responsibilities thrust abruptly on recent high school graduates. From having appearance rules to possibly paying your own housing and dining fees and creating your own schedule. Then all of a sudden it's job searching time and interviewing and deciding what your possible career will be!
Where did all of it come from? The small amount of planning to all of a sudden figuring out your future in a short period of time. Life comes fast and one of the punches it throws is an intimidating right hook right to your confidence. Talking to someone with higher authority and the ability to grant or deny future jobs to you can be something terrifying. However, it can also build to be some of your best relationships in not only your career but your personal life.
Recently, the college of business at Kansas State University brought in a young man by the name of Isaac Serwanga who was there to calm all college student' nerves that were in attendance and direct them on the right path to successfully finding a job.
With many steps to building a networking tree and using his program "Inform and Inspire," 200 students left Isaac's presentation with more confidence and idea of what their next steps should be.
For those that weren't able to attend, Mr. Serwanga began the morning by highlighting the fact that at most networking events and banquets attended, you rarely find conversation with the stranger sitting right next to you. Naturally then, we began by meeting someone new around us and socializing for around five minutes and broadening our network in a casual environment.
He then led into his guided Networking Tree and stemming from deciding on an industry and eventually leading to eight K-State alumni contacts from named companies that are accessible through K-State connections.
There is more to finding a job after college than building contacts. There are a few more steps to success and making yourself attractive to companies and organizations. Before sharing too many of Mr. Serwanga's I want to encourage looking for his next appearances that may be near you, I also want to highlight the importance of LinkedIn and making the most of its use.
