How to turn fun HBCU Homecoming memories into unforgettable networking moments

It’s officially homecoming season! Amid tailgates, tap shows and backyard reunions, profession experts encourage everyone, especially young professionals, to use returning home as a possibility to expand their skilled networks and increase their probabilities of recent profession opportunities.

It’s no secret that the skilled job market is especially difficult at once, especially for Black professionals. With quite a few studies confirming the uncertain state of the labor market, profession experts are emphasizing now greater than ever the importance of connecting with job seekers. Just as McCaskill encourages job seekers to network regardless of where they’re of their careers, he recognizes the solemn nature of coming home.

“During the farewell ball and events like this, you are at the intersection of culture and career,” he noted. “Coming house is an ideal place to strengthen your network and stand out in a competitive job market. Just making that connection, one connection when you’re back home with the precise alumnus who then introduces you to the precise alumnus, might be the difference between spending a month on the lookout for a job or six months on the lookout for one.

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With that in mind, listed here are 4 ways to construct meaningful relationships if you return to the backyard:

Networking = constructing connections

“Networking is not about handing out business cards. Networking is about identifying a community of people who are rooting for you to win,” McCaskill explained.

While networking can lead to profession success, the premise of this skill is constructing relationships with people. So before you approach anyone, understand that this just isn’t the time to bombard them with questions or requests for mentoring or employment. Networking starts like several conversation: with an introduction.

“Just like your goal isn’t to get married and have a baby with every person you meet on a date, your goal in networking is to have a great conversation and maybe connect later,” he added. “When networking, I want to talk, introduce myself to someone, where they (learn) something about me, hear and receive something about them, and then maybe we can connect and talk later.”

Understanding time and place

The homecoming is stuffed with various events. Before you rush out to secure a spot on the annual step show, McCaskill recommends stopping by the campus alumni office to see what events offer networking opportunities in a more “traditional” way (e.g. mixers, panel discussions, etc.). However, if a possibility arises outside of those more formal networking spaces, don’t hesitate to start a conversation with the alumni around you.

“Look, most people coming home aren’t necessarily going to be in the mood to talk about work, especially at cocktail parties, social gatherings and tailgates,” he explained. “Yes, it could be cocktails, it could be some tap dancing, it could be some old style storytelling, but should you’re in these spaces together with your sorority brothers or sisters, it’s an ideal opportunity (to construct connections).

Practice and preparation

McCaskill says job seekers should approach these interviews with “curiosity and confidence.” To construct your confidence, she recommends preparing and practicing a 30-second presentation explaining who you might be, what you do, and what you are on the lookout for (hint: you would like to connect or stay connected). Once you have polished your introduction, be certain your LinkedIn profile is updated and/or use virtual business cards or features like LinkedIn QR codes to seamlessly connect with people regardless of what.

“We all have our phones with us most of the time, whether we’re standing in line for Hennessy or waiting in line for a game,” he added. “When you talk to someone, nine times out of ten they could not provide you with their phone number, or you’ll be able to’t spell their name in an email, but you’ll be able to pull up their LinkedIn instantly. You reach out and send yourself a note to be certain you reciprocate.

Don’t forget to follow up

Contacting people is as vital as the primary meeting. After meeting someone at a family function that might turn into a possible skilled bond, make sure to include a customized note in your email or LinkedIn request – mentioning something from the conversation. However, this just isn’t a one-time step. Be sure to reach out to your recent connection to proceed constructing relationships well beyond the realm of homecoming.

“You have to have a relationship-building and community-building mindset,” McCaskill said, highlighting LinkedIn’s “Catch Up” tab, which allows users to stay awake to date with their friends’ profession milestones, etc. “People want to know that you’re there to think about them before you will need them. So all these things matter.”

Ultimately, as we start our return home, McCaskill wants everyone to remember to “bring the best of yourself wherever you are. So you can have a quick two-minute conversation in a pleasant environment and turn it into a powerful networking moment. We’re talking about Black people who turned everything that was difficult into something amazing. You can easily turn a fun homecoming moment into a networking opportunity.”