Refining my networking and conversation skills with SAF alumni
Through
many
events
and
one-on-one
conversations,
I
have
been
able
to
meet
several
alumni
to
pick
their
brains
about
their
former
experiences.
Especially
in
a
group
or
networking
setting,
I
found
that
it
has
been
vital
to
be
efficient
with
time
when
getting
to
know
alumni,
especially
at
a
first
meeting.
With
that
being
the
case,
I
have
a
few
go-to
questions
I
like
to
ask
to
get
the
most
out
of
conversations
for
both
parties.
First, after a quick introduction, I always like to start by asking a specific question about the alum to get them comfortable talking about something they know well. For example, if I learned that the alum work at a certain company, I would start by asking them how their experience has been and what an average day looks like. This allows them to talk about something they are very familiar with but also allows you to learn a lot about a specific company or position through another person’s direct experiences.
Another question I like to ask is one more specifically about their school experiences and what their favourite courses, clubs and memories were and why. This again allows the alum to talk about something familiar to them and gives you a deeper insight into certain opportunities you may not have heard of that might interest you.
Finally, towards the end of the conversation, I always like to ask a more personal question based on their interests, whether it’s about a sports team, hobby, or just a general question about their personal interests. This gives you something outside of academics to potentially relate to and it gives you a reason to stay in touch.