On April 8, the Founders Ballrooms hosted a networking dinner and fashion show where students could practice their networking skills and refine their professional presentation at social events. The Career and Life Design Center’s Etiquette Mixer also featured a fashion show with examples of appropriate, fun and funny outfits to wear to the office.
“Networking is so imperative because you never know who someone else knows; because everyone has a network,” Bill Stec, manager of Recruitment and Campus Relations at Yeo & Yeo, said. “So even though you could be talking to me right now, I may not have a job for you within my company, but once I learn more about you, I may know someone from another company that could possibly interview you.”
Stec kicked off the event with a brief presentation about his professional career in the entertainment industry, where he conducted hospitality and sales events for various celebrities like Kid Rock, Three Days Grace and the Blue Man Group.
“The way this event was set up tonight, it broke the ice — it was because of the way the presentation was delivered, and then the fashion show,” Stec said. “It just made it not so intimidating, and that allowed people to just get up and just get some food, get some mocktails, and go have a conversation.”
Stec went over everything you should and shouldn’t do at a networking event, like giving assertive handshakes, how to eat while talking to people and how to excuse yourself from a table.
“Just have a natural conversation, they’re nervous too, think about it that way. It’s a two way street,” Stec said. “The employers, they’re here for a reason too. They have jobs they need to fill, and they have certain people they want to meet at this event today and they have to make a positive first impression too.”
The star of the show, besides the OU students who styled the Professional Dress Fashion Show, was LinkedIn, the social network for professionals. Stec, the Career and Life Design Center (CLDC) and employers all highlighted the need for LinkedIn in the digital age.
“That’s why I always encourage people to network on LinkedIn, because then you get to see people that are familiar with your contacts within those fields,” Stec said. “It’s a small world out there.”
Sarah Swarz, Career and Life Design Marketing and Events Coordinator explained that the event was a year in the making in collaboration with the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) and the Association of Graduate Students.
“When you’re making an event that’s brand new, you don’t want to just make it and do it like you want to spend time,” Swarz said. “You got to learn from other events, other people, doing other things in other institutions. Then you have to have time to learn what the students actually want. So we want to give them experiences that they’re looking for.”
Employers from Oakland County government, Rocket Companies and United Wholesale Mortgage were present to network with students who were also incentivized by a raffle. Companies like Yeo & Yeo, American Axle and Bravo Payment Systems also participated in the mixer to diversify the networking opportunities for students.
“You may be getting coffee with a future employer, or wanting to talk to someone about their job, you might be going to an after work function and not know how to operate or what’s appropriate, and I feel like Bill Stec went over some of those things,” Swarz said.
As students embark on job searches for the summer or after graduation, Swarz advised them to prepare as early as possible for their dream jobs.
“You are never too early on in college to start thinking about your career and what you want to do after school,” Swarz said. “So the more practice and more experiences you have to draw on while you’re preparing for that will help the transition be smoother for you.”
