“Networking for Dummies”
When I checked the syllabus for MCS 404, I was hit with a wave of stress as I saw that an assignment for the class — this post, specifically — required me to reach out to professionals in order to get their opinions on what makes or breaks an interview. I racked my brain for a good while, trying to determine who I should reach out to, what fields I am interested in, and whether or not I would come off as annoying for bothering these people with zero return on their end.
Networking is quite the peculiar thing. Being an effective networker entails a number of learned and given traits — one of these being, as Ilana Gershon points out in Down and Out in the New Economy, generally personable (that is, being able to engage in “friendly and pleasant talk”)(94). For Gershon, networking is more than simple pleasantries, though they are important. Your professional network, according to Gershon, is one of the strongest business assets you can have. Because of this, Gershon argues that a conscious effort should be made to “invest … constantly” in it (95). Gershon even brings up an example comparing networking to dieting, in the sense that it requires a mindful presence and that attention be payed to it every day (93).
So, where does that leave me, with my relatively meager, college student network. Thankfully, I realized that I had some contacts already within reach. I not only had my father, whose past and current work has included interviewing potential hires, but I also had his close friend and business partner, as well as my aunt, who deals with new applicants on a daily basis. And so, I sought to glean from these professionals whatever information I could regarding the interview process, as so often it is the first step in building one’s network, and (perhaps more pertinently) a job.
My father, Mark Sigmon, is the Managing Partner of Power Management Electrical Consultants — a business he started over ten years ago, and one that has been thriving as of late. I asked him two simple questions (as I did largely with all my interviewees). The first: What’s the most important thing for you when interviewing a potential hire?
“Attitude,” he said. “You can teach people anything, but they need to have the right attitude.” I didn’t press him on what he meant specifically, as his demeanor suggested a no-nonsense, knowledgeable and obviously interested person would be the most agreeable candidate. His answer to the second question was in that same vain: What’s the thing that turns a potential hire into a never-in-my-lifetime-would-they-have-a-chance hire?
“Appearance is everything,” he said, without hesitation. “Representing the company. You have to appear professionally. The first impression to a client is the lasting impression.” He went on, “then it’s your attitude. Once you open your mouth, who are you?”
The interview with my father was brief, but telling. Obviously, appearance matters. Experience, too, no doubt.
My father’s business partner, Gary Rich, also serves as Principal of his own engineering firm, RE Engineering. The interview, available above, was reflective of some of my dad’s statements. The best thing someone can do at an interview, according to Rich, is present themselves well — both in appearance and attitude. The inverse (or, biggest mistake) is simply showing a lack of interest.
“If they sit back and don’t participate or … if they evade [answering questions]… the key thing is, I’d look for the person to be engaging and interested in doing the job that they've come in to apply for.”
My aunt, Evelyn Nichols, is the Founder and Owner of Informa Training Partners, and has been running the company 19 years. Nichols’ business picks up many of their applicants through social media sites, primarily LinkedIn. Word of mouth, in contrast to Rich’s experience, is not as useful. “Just word of mouth per se isn’t probably one of the better ways to try to get candidates to interview for positions,” she says.
Nichols’ best interview tactic is to make sure you have, as she puts it “done [your] homework.” Being prepared shows a real interest in the company, she says. Having thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer shows interest, as does having meaningful answers (rather than ‘canned’ responses). In the same vein, for Nichols, a lack of knowledge is the breaker for an interview. Another important point was the need to send a follow-up thank you note to the interviewer.
“Certainly make sure you thank the person while you’re there but also sending a follow-up thank you note, thanking them for their time and taking the time to interview … and to reiterate why you think you’re a good candidate for the position. You would be amazed at the number of times that doesn’t happen.”
To close with Ilana Gershon’s point, the most important thing you can do is to go out and network (89). Sitting at home, sending hundreds of resumes to employers and expecting a response will mean nothing if you aren’t able to connect (during an interview) with employers and show your value as an employee.
