Post: #1

I hope to eventually get a job in engineering and was wondering if you guys could let me in on a few tips to make really good impressions on people. Everyone in my family and my older friend's that have gotten fairly good corporate type jobs have acquired these jobs strictly through networking, so I figure that in order to compete I'm going to have to do the same.

I won't be able to work for two or three years maybe but I have a couple of questions -

Is it better to network in bars or during the day time?

I'm not generally a very polite person. I am generally very friendly and sociable, especially in a bar. Should I work on being more polite?

Are there specific things that I should look for or do while networking? For example, get a business card, stuff like that?

How do you ingratiate yourself to your superiors without kissing their asses?

Post: #2

(10-27-2012 12:36 PM)Hades Wrote:  I hope to eventually get a job in engineering and was wondering if you guys could let me in on a few tips to make really good impressions on people. Everyone in my family and my older friend's that have gotten fairly good corporate type jobs have acquired these jobs strictly through networking, so I figure that in order to compete I'm going to have to do the same.


How do you ingratiate yourself to your superiors without kissing their asses?

Work on a project with them. As you selfishly explain how you executed it, mention them by name as to how they helped you, or guided you along the way.

Post: #3

(10-27-2012 12:36 PM)Hades Wrote:  I hope to eventually get a job in engineering and was wondering if you guys could let me in on a few tips to make really good impressions on people. Everyone in my family and my older friend's that have gotten fairly good corporate type jobs have acquired these jobs strictly through networking, so I figure that in order to compete I'm going to have to do the same.

I won't be able to work for two or three years maybe but I have a couple of questions -

Is it better to network in bars or during the day time?

I'm not generally a very polite person. I am generally very friendly and sociable, especially in a bar. Should I work on being more polite?

Are there specific things that I should look for or do while networking? For example, get a business card, stuff like that?

How do you ingratiate yourself to your superiors without kissing their asses?

Whether you find it easier to network in bars or day-network will probably have a lot to do with your personality. I say try both and see which works better for you.

It's not important to be polite, it's important to be considerate. A considerate asshole, or a loveable jerk, works for me. The only time you should be very polite is over the phone, because your friendly body language won't be able to override any rudeness. Focus on basics: ask people if it's a good time to talk, offer to call back later if the time is inconvenient, always drop a thank you. But be bold, daring, courageous, ill-mannered, audacious too. You need a mix of alpha and beta to draw in people. Everyone loves an asshole with a heart.

As for specific things to do, I break that down in my WNDHC thread - dress for networking, have a business card holder, have some personalised calling cards, hunt people down that you can con into integrating into your network.

As for getting along with superiors, Dale Carnegies How to win friends and influence people has top tips. I am about 50% through my summary of it, I will post it up once I'm done.

Post: #4

Best way to network is to get into an internship program and get a student job. Most engineering colleges have internship programs where you go to school 1 semester, then work the next semester and the summer for a company. Most of the students ignore these programs and just work head down towards their degree. IMHO, they're idiots. You get paid pretty well, gain a lot of experience, and develop a lot of contacts. And unlike a real job, it's easy to switch companies each work period in the program without any hard feelings, and keep the doors open. Most people manage to work at 2 employers, but really dedicated ones will sample 3.

Also, find out about your alumni affairs office, and go to their mixers and events, especially the off-campus ones in local big cities when classes are out and you're home. Again, you'll meet a lot of people, some (not all) of them you'll develop a connection with, and they'll be able to open doors for you.

A student internship and its work experience is a big asset in all engineering fields.

This is spreading over into other fields. I know a landlord that specializes in short term apartment leases to students in the http://optometry.berkeley.edu/ program. They have a huge internship program, and the students are so busy working at different jobs around the country they really only need to stop by the campus for classes for a few months each year.