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12 Networking Your Way to Deloitte Continued from page 7 sports, current events, your weekend, anything that you yourself would find interesting to talk about. Some additional tips regarding topics follow: • Avoid personal topics. Don’t inquire about someone’s family, religion, etc unless they talk about it first. • Be specific when asking questions. “Tell me about your firm?” and “What do you do?” are too vague for someone to answer appropriately. During the Event Stay professional throughout the session. There’s nothing worse than talking to somebody in overly casual tones only to later discover that they are a manager or a partner. So to be on the safe side, be professional at all times and be aware that you are constantly being observed by all firm representatives. As well, conversations can easily be overheard during busy information sessions so it’s best to keep things professional even when you’re just talking to friends. Entering the Conversation It’s always hard the first time you have to walk up to somebody you don’t know and start talking. Here are some tips to get you started to work up your courage and make the first step towards creating a positive impression: • Network with a buddy. Let’s face it, networking can be a daunting task at times. Easing into conversations with a friend can definitely fend off those butterflies in your stomach and keep awkward silences at bay. • Don’t know what to do with your hands? Feel awkward putting them in your pockets all of the time? Occupy your hands by holding your business cards or a drink in your hand. But always remember to keep at least one hand free for the handshake! The Conversation You’ve successfully made it into the conversation. Now what should you do? Here are some tips for an unforgettable conversation: • Stay focused and listen carefully. Resist the temptation to start planning what you’re going to say next while the other person is talking. Instead, focus on listening and ask questions about the existing topic rather than making awkward jumps to new subjects. • Pauses are not necessarily a bad thing. Take the time to think before you speak and speak as if you were talking to a friend. • Pay attention to the other person’s body language. Information sessions are usually packed with people and you may need to move closer to hear, but remember to respect the other person’s personal space and don’t crowd them. Ending the Conversation Your last words are as important as your first, so here are some tips and tricks on how to end a conversation and leave a great impression with the firm representatives: • Exchange contact information. Ask for the other person’s business card and offer yours. • Reiterate your interest. To leave a well-remembered impression, you may want to re-emphasize your interest in the firm and your passion for the work. • Repeat the person’s name when saying goodbye. Not only is this a great way to help you remember names, but it also wraps up the conversation with a personalized statement. Food Free food and drinks are synonymous with networking. Before you dive into the goodies, here are a few tips for eating and drinking in a formal environment: • Choose between eating and drinking. Remember to keep one hand free for shaking hands and exchanging business cards. You do not want to be caught with a plate in one hand and a glass in the other! • Avoid greasy finger foods if you plan on shaking hands with professionals! • Know your limit and stay within it. While alcohol may calm your nerves, a few nervous sips here and there can lead you to drinking too much, thereby quickly tarnishing your professional image. Don’t feel obligated to drink if you are not comfortable with it. After the Event After an exciting networking event, you may want to sit down and relax on a comfortable couch and enjoy your favorite TV show, but wait! You still have some homework to do… Follow up A thank you letter is a powerful tool to place you above the competition and it also provides a great opportunity to express your personal appreciation. Here are some tips that you may find helpful: • Establish contact within 24 hours. Send a quick email or a phone call to express your thanks for the wonderful conversation you shared in a timely manner. • Customize each thank you letter. Tailor your letter to highlight the interesting topics you discussed with the representative during the event and avoid using standard templates. Take Notes Cheat-sheets aren’t just for school, you can also create one to keep track of who you’ve talked to. Here are some tips: • Use the back of business cards. Write down the important topics, thoughts and ideas discussed during the conversation on the back of the firm representative’s business card. This will help you match the facts with the right person. • Do your homework right away. Don’t expect that you will still remember everything the next morning after waking up from a sweet dream, so write down all of the facts immediately after the networking session. Review Your Notes Before going out to your next event, don’t forget to take out the business cards and read the notes you took from last time. This will help you better link the names with the faces and provide a good place to start your next conversation. July 2007
Battle of the Clubs by: Shyla Chandra Director of Communications, MISA Sunday, July 8th marked the Management Information System Association’s (MISA’s) very first Paintball Club Challenge. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept, paintball is a game in which small nickel-sized balls filled with paint are fired out from a special gun. The force of the shot causes the paintball to explode onto the target’s body. Although it sounds quite painful, it is also a lot of <strong>fun</strong>. Many business clubs and several independent teams came out to the event. Kevin Ngai was definitely the most prepared player, as he brought his very own equipment and came with extra paintballs up his sleeves. The hot weather, tall trees and tiny shrubs turned the area into a convincing battlefield. The teams were clad in protective face masks and layers of clothing, and were ready to battle it out. Many of the players had never been paintballing before, but they did not let their inexperience stand in the way. As the day progressed, teams were slowly eliminated. Those off the field were busy showing off their bruises and battle scars, and telling stories of their adventures. Arjun Verma and Erica Leung had the barbeque up and running, providing much-needed 13 nutrients to the wounded and hungry combatants. As chatter and laughs were filling the air off the field, silence and sharp popping sounds could be heard in the distance. “The teams were clad in protective face masks and layers of clothing, and were ready to battle it out” The battle was grueling and rough, and in the end, only one team was victorious. However, it was an awesome new experience for many, and everyone had a great time. Congratulations to Jen Jiang for hosting such a successful event! July 2007
Page 2 and 3: Columns Club Articles Table of Cont
Page 4 and 5: 4 Some Adventuresome SMAers by: Lov
Page 6 and 7: Learn more: www.becomea.ca www.casb
Page 8 and 9: 8 Four Stereotypes You’ll Encount
Page 11: Random Reviews on Random Things by:
Page 15 and 16: Alumnus Advice: Burning Bridges Is
Page 17 and 18: I WANT YOU FOR THE BUZZ INTERESTED
Page 19: 19 fun stuff SUDOKU Sudoku is a log

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