Dress to Impress
The way you are dressed is the first thing an employer will notice about you, therefore it is important to look professional in order to make a good first impression. Try to avoid wearing bright colors. Dark colors like black and navy blue give you a more sharp look. In addition, neutral colors such as beige, taupe, gray, cream, brown, and white are also recommended colors to wear when it comes to professional events. Try to avoid bold patterns as well. In most of Binghamton-hosted events, the dress code will be provided so make sure you understand what the dress code means. For example, know the difference between smart casual and business professional. Always remember that it is better to be a bit overdressed than underdressed for an event. Every year the Fleishman Center provides the JC Penny Suit Up where students can go to JC Penny and buy professional clothing on sale.
Have an Elevator Pitch
Having an elevator pitch is essential for building a connection with an employer. When building an elevator pitch, think about who you are and what you have already accomplished. Furthermore, think about what you hope to accomplish at this company and what you have to offer them. Try to find out what makes you unique from other employees. Do you have qualifications that are valuable and are uncommon? Have you won any awards or have been recognized for your work in a similar field? Make sure your elevator pitch is practiced so that you can say it well, but do not just run through it and speak robotically. Try to make it sound conversational and sincere. And always keep your elevator pitch updated with the most relevant and recent experiences. For more information on elevator pitches, you can look at an example and tips in the Fleishman Career guide.
Print out Copies of Your Resume
Many employers will want a copy of your resume after speaking with you so that they can have further information about you and can contact you after if they are interested. Always have printed copies of your resume and print more than you expect to give out. It is recommended that you carry it in some sort of folder so that the paper can be kept nice and clean. It also looks more professional in a folder than just holding them loosely in your hand. If you know about the employers attending beforehand, try to adjust your resume so that it is more relevant to that company. Make sure your resume looks professional and has your contact information. If you need to build a resume or want it looked over, book an appointment with the Fleishman Center.
Follow Up Within 48 hours Sending a thank you email after networking really further stabilizes your connection with that employer. You want to send a professional email within 48 hours of your conversation with them so that you are still fresh in their head. Sending an email is the most common way to thank your employer, but feel free to also use Linkedin since you can then try to connect with them on that platform as well. Make sure to recap what you talked about in your message so that it seems more personal to the employer. In addition, if there is information that you had forgotten to tell the employer, use this email to further sell yourself to them. Keep in mind that you want to keep this clear and concise as the employers do not want to read an essay. For more information, look at the Fleishman Career guide.
