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It’s the best time of the year, homecoming is here!! Between the decked out Greek row houses, parades and lively tailgates, Columbia will be firing on all cylinders this weekend as we welcome all of our beloved Tigers back home.
And while homecoming is generally about celebrating and commemorating the tradition of it all and hopefully winning the football game (Gators down!), it also unironically doubles as one of the best times of the year to expand your professional network. Alumni will be coming in troves back to campus, ready to share their career journeys and paying it forward to the next generation of Mizzou students.
So, take heed to that and make every conversation count this weekend! Whether you’re standing in line for a hot dog at the game, watching the parade with friends or chatting it up at a tailgate, it’s a chance to potentially make a connection that could open doors for you down the road.
Building an elevator pitch
The elevator pitch, its arguably one of the most important components of networking and isn’t as difficult as it seems. You don’t have to master corporate speak to create your elevator pitch.
When you’re engaging in casual conversations, you just need to have a clear introduction that allows the people around you to get to know you a little better. When you are concocting your elevator pitch try to focus on three key elements:
- Who you are – Your name, year and major
- What you’re involved in + passionate about – Campus organizations, jobs or projects
- Questions + career goals – Adds color to who you are
Example elevator pitch
“Hi, My name is Blake and I am a junior studying strategic communication. Right now, I am interning at Weiden + Kennedy, and I’m hoping to pursue account management after graduation! Does campus feel any different than the last time you were here?”
The 80:20 rule
Contrary to popular belief, networking isn’t solely about pitching yourself and transactional exchanges – it’s about building genuine connections. When engaging in conversations with alumni or someone you’re networking with, remember to be “quick to listen and slow to speak.”
You should be aiming to do 80% of the listening and contributing about 20% of talking to the conversation. This allows you to not only learn more about the other person, but it shows them that you have a vested interest in pursuing a relationship with them.
Try to prioritize asking open-ended questions about their career path, their company’s culture and industry trends they’re following. Asking thoughtful multi-fold questions can turn awkward interactions into a valuable exchange.
Ask questions like these:
- What was your favorite Mizzou tradition when you were a student?
- What does a typical day look like in your current role?
- If you could give your college self one piece of advice, what would it be?
The strategic follow-up
A great conversation during homecoming can be a fire starter in creating a lasting connection if you’re able to keep in touch. Always ask for contact information or modes of communication, like their LinkedIn or email before parting ways. Prioritize reaching out within 24 to 48 hours while their memory is still fresh to thank them for speaking to you and end your message with action items.
Example of a follow-up message:
Subject: Great meeting you at Mizzou Homecoming
Hi Sophie,
It was wonderful getting to meet you at the tailgate on Saturday! I really enjoyed hearing about your work at JP Morgan and your advice on breaking into investment banking.
As I finish up my last semester at Mizzou, I’d love to stay connected via LinkedIn and share the pro-bono work I’m engaging in this semester! I also wanted to tell you I went and bought the book you mentioned picking up. So far, it’s been a great read! It’s given me a more nuanced perspective on how to best lead in a corporate setting.
If you have 15-20 minutes to spare in the coming weeks, I’d love to set up a quick Zoom call to chat and ask a few more questions about your team’s day-to-day workflow and operation.
When the opportunity arises, please let me know a time that works best for your schedule! Again, thank you so much for taking the time to connect with me this weekend, I hope you’ll make your way to Como again soon!
Best,
Sophie Miller
You don’t have to have networking all figured out right now! With a little practice and intentionality, it will become second nature. If you want help translating your work experience into an elevator pitch, stop by the career center! For more information about networking and creating professional relationships, visit the Networking page.
By Raigan Clay