Accounting Networking Tips: How do you just walk up to a crowd or join a conversation?
> One-on-one is a requirement
> Leave your friends behind!
> Wait for eye contact
> Engage
What can you talk about?
> Hi, how are you?
> Have you done research beforehand?
> If not, “Hi my name is Andrew, and you are? Nice to meet you, what do you do?”
How to try to connect with someone without trying to sound “fake”?
> The biggest piece is listening–active listening–and here’s how we define it:
1. Pay Attention
Give the speaker your undivided attention and acknowledge the message. Recognize that non-verbal communication also “speaks” loudly.
- Look at the speaker directly.
- Put aside distracting thoughts.
- Don’t mentally prepare a rebuttal.
- Avoid being distracted by environmental factors such as side conversations.
- “Listen” to the speaker’s body language.
2. Show That You’re Listening
Use your own body language and gestures to convey your attention.
- Nod occasionally.
- Smile and use other facial expressions.
- Note your posture and make sure it is open and inviting.
- Encourage the speaker to continue with small verbal comments like yes and uh huh.
3. Provide Feedback
Our personal filters, assumptions, judgments, and beliefs can distort what we hear. As a listener, your role is to understand what is being said. This may require you to reflect what is being said and ask questions.
- Reflect what has been said by paraphrasing. “What I’m hearing is,” and “Sounds like you are saying,” are great ways to reflect back.
- Ask questions to clarify certain points. “What do you mean when you say…” and “Is this what you mean?”
- Summarize the speaker’s comments periodically.
4. Defer Judgment
Interrupting is a waste of time. It frustrates the speaker and limits full understanding of the message.
- Allow the speaker to finish each point before asking questions.
- Don’t interrupt with counter-arguments.
5. Respond Appropriately
Active listening is a model for respect and understanding. You are gaining information and perspective. You add nothing by attacking the speaker or otherwise putting him or her down.
- Be candid, open, and honest in your response.
- Assert your opinions respectfully.
- Treat the other person in a way that you think he or she would want to be treated.
Courtesy of Mind Tools.
How do you send an email to a super busy person and get a response?
Have a listen for the best way! Here is the email I mentioned I sent years ago to plant my seed with PwC:
“Dear M(r)s. Cabrera,
Good afternoon.
Hello! My name is Andrew Argue and I am the Vice President of Beta Alpha Psi at the University of Tampa. Last month Mr. John West was in contact with Kaylyn Wilkin, our old Vice President about the possibility of speaking with you about internships, jobs, and a relationship between PWC and the University of Tampa.
As the Vice President of Beta Alpha Psi, I work closely with our Executive Committee to improve the Lambda Beta chapter. We are still fairly young, as the chapter only received our charter five years ago. With that said, we have done a great deal in those six short years. We recently gained national recognition because of our participation in the Best Practices competition last February where we earned third place at the Regional Conference in Charlotte, NC. We are growing, welcoming a stronger candidate class every semester, and therefore making a name for ourselves.
Are you interested in having lunch sometime next week? In Beta Alpha Psi we are constantly trying to improve our relationships with firms, particularly with the “Big Four”. I believe the members of our chapter will be valuable assets to many firms in the future. Feel free to contact me by email or call my cell phone listed at the bottom. Thank you for your valuable time.
Sincerely,
If you have a specific situation and need some advice, you can always shoot me an email at andrew@thebeancounter.org
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