Networking Reflection

Prompt #1 – Networking Experience

During this semester, I participated in Mendoza Rally as the networking event. Overall, I felt very comfortable attending this event, which was more relaxing than formal networking events. For instance, during this event, I noticed that those around me were mostly parents of classmates and recent graduates. Even though everyone was in their professional roles, there was no sense of formality or pressure as if they were company representatives. Perhaps in the eyes of many, I was just a classmate of their child or friend rather than a company applicant. During this period, I mainly chatted with classmates from our project and friends and family brought by them. The whole process was very relaxing. Our topics were not limited to work but also open-ended discussions about personal experiences and some interesting cultural differences. Although from a purely professional development perspective, it may not have much effect on job hunting, I think it was also a very special experience for me. More accurately, it was a good opportunity for information sharing and communication practice. After all, in my future career, not every person I meet will need to communicate in a very formal partnership or customer relationship. I need to be able to socialize effectively in these informal situations. I personally recommend that future students actively enjoy such opportunities. From my perspective, I will rate the event 7/10.

PROMPT #2: Three actions to improve the ability of your social network to influence your own success and/or the success of your overall network.

I think the three actions that can improve my social network are (1) improve my Time Management skill, (2) use OKRs to set goals with reachable steps, and (3) enhance my understanding of Leading with Emotional Intelligence and apply it to daily life.

First, time management skills. I still remember that the professor asked us to record our weekly schedules at the beginning of the semester. When I received this task, I knew my schedule might need improvement, and I might not be able to include all my commitments, as many tasks were completed after midnight, while the latest time on the schedule was midnight. Nevertheless, I filled in the remaining time according to my usual lifestyle. Due to my habits, I prefer studying at night because the environment is quieter and more conducive for me to focus on studying alone. However, I also realized that many hours during the day were not effectively utilized, especially fragmented time. Many networking interactions can be accomplished in fragmented time, but I might have left those moments for social media or other trivial activities. I believe I need to continue strengthening my ability to leverage fragmented time while maintaining some of my original focus habits. For example, when I need to concentrate on completing a task, I use the Forest app to lock my phone apps until a specified time.

Secondly, the goal is to apply and implement OKRs effectively. I will follow the specific steps for OKRs to create my networking plan since the recruiting season has begun and many positions are gradually opening for applications. The first step is organizing my target companies, job requirements, and application deadlines. The second step involves refining my personal information, such as developing a personal website, enhancing my LinkedIn profile, and finalizing my resume for submission at any time. The third step is to reach out to alumni who can help me network with each company, aiming to connect with 2-3 people weekly to gain insights into the recruitment process and industry conditions. The fourth step is to utilize the school's career development service to assist with mock interviews, taking advantage of every opportunity provided by each company and being a prepared applicant at all times.

Lastly, it's about enhancing emotional intelligence. Before taking the course, I understood that high emotional intelligence benefits everyone, whether they are employees or leaders, but I didn't anticipate the scientific validation of its importance. In the management course, I learned that when assessing whether someone is a good leader, emotional intelligence plays a significantly larger role than IQ. I am very grateful that in many of my classes, the professor taught us how to navigate events more tactfully, how to resolve confirmation bias, and how to be a good person, employee, or leader in a rational and scientifically informed manner to the greatest extent possible. I believe I will integrate these practices into my own work style, keep these insights in mind, and incorporate them into all my future actions.