Dan Black '94, Global Recruiting Leader at EY, shares his best networking tips at 2019 Metro Connections Night
Networking isn't always easy. According to Dan Black '94, Global Recruiting Leader at EY, if you can draw on a similarity between you and the other person, it's a lot easier to become memorable.
During Binghamton in the City Week, the Fleishman Center and the Alumni Association work to bring those similarities to the forefront: being a Binghamton student or alumni, and being in the NYC metropolitan area.
In addition to the 40 employer site visits, the offices hosted Metro Connections Night on Tuesday, Jan. 8 2019, at the Sheraton New York Times Square. There, over 350 Binghamton students traveled to network with over 115 alumni working in a variety of fields, including technology, marketing, government, entertainment/arts/fashion, and finance.
Black's keynote, "The Power of Networking," revealed the powerful networking he's acquired through 20+ years of experience as a recruiter, interacting with students and potential employees.
Here are Dan's best tips. Use them whenever networking, interviewing, or at events such as the Spring Job and Internship Fairs!
Define your personal brand
"Whether you like it or not, whether you know it or not, each of you has already started to formulate your own personal brand," Black said. "It's what you're known for; it's a set of characteristics that people conjure to mind when they think of you as an individual."
Dan remarked that this is the piece of networking that most people he meets often forget.
"Who you want to be or who you want people to think of you as, that's a component that virtually no one I meet has spent enough time thinking about," he said.
Ask yourself: what is your emotional appeal? What is it that you bring to a conversation or interaction? If you're not sure, ask your best friend. Then make sure whoever you network with knows that about you.
Do your research
Dan suggests that before any interaction, meeting, or networking, do some preparation - not just before formal networking events.
For both new connections and people you regularly interact with, jot down information you learn about them as it comes. According to Dan, when you see them again, you can ask yourself, "what is the most important thing that I'm aware of that's going on in that person's life right now?"
It shows interest and adds a personal touch that will help you stand out.
"If you're going to spend two or three hours of your life at a networking event, spend two or three minutes before said event looking up who's going to be there, what they do and who they work for," Black said.
Black recommends going in with a game plan of who you want to meet, and make sure you focus on them first.
Be memorable and engaging
First and foremost, have an engaging introduction. According to Dan, all it has to be is appropriate and memorable. Ask yourself: what makes you, you?
Dan also recommends having 1-2 stories about yourself that explain to the person you're interacting with what you bring to the table.
Engage the other person: repeat their name back to them to show you've remembered it. Also, ensure mutual benefit by contributing something to the equation. Even if the person you're interacting with is farther along in their career than you, sharing current events about their field or knowledge you've learned in school will go a long way.
Remember your body language and appearance
Make sure you dress appropriately for the situation. Dan says it sends a positive message to prospective employers.
"In every stage in your life, you're going to need to look, dress, and act a certain way," Black said. "It does not mean you're selling out to 'the man.' What it is signaling is, 'I can be appropriate in whatever situation you want to stick me in.'"
As far as body language goes, Dan recommends a comfortable open stance, natural eye
contact, and most importantly, an 'open face'.
To show an open face, lift your eyebrows slightly. This will communicate to the other
person that you are focused and present, more so than an expressionless face or a
serious, concentrated face.
"The open face shows that you're interested, you're engaged, you have something to hear in addition to something to say," Black said. "It also brings out your softest self, your best listener."
And finally, Dan's quick do's and don'ts:
Do look people up on LinkedIn and leverage the information you find.
Do use the buddy system for networking if you're uncomfortable doing it on your own.
Do keep your social media profiles clean and current. Remember, 95% of recruiters use
LinkedIn.
Don't ignore your peers.
Don't spend all your time with the highest ranking person in the room.
Don't use polarizing issues as a conversation point.
