“Reputation Pro” presents ABCs

By: Sarah Kaider, Contributing Writer

Certified Contacts Count Trainer and “Reputation Pro” with Reputation COUNTS Marcia Hall visited campus Thursday to teach students how to successfully make connections.

“We wanted to do a program specifically for juniors and seniors, and we asked them what are some of the challenges that they face, and the biggest challenges were getting a job and getting into grad school,” Chris Hall, who is in the Masters program for counseling psychology, said.  “So we wanted to pick something really specific they can use as they try to find a job or get into grad school.”

Hall, who has over 25 years of experience with networking reputational management, defined networking as “forming mutually beneficial relationships.”  She mentioned that by following her three steps, students can successfully create those relationships.

During her workshop, entitled “The ABCs of Networking,” Hall said that networkers should be proactive. She recommended that networkers know how to join and leave a conversation, teach their names in a way that others are sure to remember and tell others exactly what it is that they do.

Hall said that when looking for someone to network with, students should try to start with someone who is alone.  She recommends that students ask politely to join them, and then initiate introductions. If the person cannot talk at the time or is in the middle of a conversation, students can always try again later, she said.
Hall also said that students should always keep up with their promises.

“Studies show that it takes 6-8 meetings for someone to see your competency, for them to see that you’re going to do what you say you are going to do,” Hall said. “We’re getting into character issues here.  Always follow through and do what you said you’ll do when you said you would do it.”
The second major piece of advice Hall gave was that students should give their name in a way that others will remember.

“People rush through the name to get to the good stuff, and forget that the name is the good stuff,” Hall said.

When trying to remember someone else’s name, students should repeat it back to them and try to make a connection to someone or something they know.
Her final piece of advice was that students should make sure to tell people exactly what it is that they do, or what their profession is, so that the other person can be of assistance to you.  She advised students against saying that they’re willing to take any job. Instead, she said that students should say what they’ve done and how they’ve been helpful in the past.

“If you done it, it ain’t bragging,” she said, quoting Walt Whitman.

Hall’s workshop helped Towson students in multiple ways.  Whether fulfilling a requirement for Business Cornerstone or giving students a chance to meet others, the workshop was deemed successful.

“I am trying to network for internships this summer, so I wanted learn a little extra before I contacted [the internship providers],” junior Kyle Warholic said.  “I decided to come for a little overview.”

Leave a Reply

Close

Processing…
Success! You're on the list.