RYAN HAGEN
Staff Writer
Students extended their professional networks and heard career advice Tuesday at the second annual Network Night.
“It’s all about the connections,” said senior Vincent Tangkilisan. Like many of the roughly 30 students who spent two hours in the Caf, he is a business major and looking to start his career in just a few months.
The first of the eight speakers, local businessman Terence Davis, established the potential benefits of networking with a true story.
“I was on a plane, not feeling very sociable,” he said. “But to be nice, I struck up a conversation.”
Davis revealed he had recently started a toy company and asked about his fellow passenger’s job. The man was a sales manager for Toys “R” Us and gave Davis the first big break for his company and a valuable lesson.
“These are the relationships you’ll draw on later in life,” said Davis, who is now the president of Great Music Studio in Malibu.
Other speakers emphasized that, while college is important, work experience matters most. The most common theme, however, seemed to be enjoying your work.
“Do what you love and love what you do,” Davis said to start off the trend.
A career will consume more of your time than anything else, so it only makes sense to enjoy it, the presenters said.
The speakers came from a variety of business-related backgrounds, including advertising and real estate.
Most students said they shared the same goal for the networking night.
“I’d like to meet some local professionals,” said senior Matt Hubbel, who majors in business administration. “Career fairs are similar, but this is more focused on networking.”
The night centered on advice, from the speakers and from a handout distributed at the beginning of the event. The handout contained 14 pages of networking, resume and interview tips.
Some of that advice was taken from the book “Get Your Dream Job!” written by Roy Adler, professor of marketing in the Business Division, and businesswoman Alexis Bonnel.
It advised students, among other things, to “become a social butterfly” and not to “join a committee, organization or group if you don’t plan on being actively involved.”
Students then rotated around the room, talking in small groups with the professional guests.
The event was sponsored by Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), the networking club Rotaract and the Seaver career center. SIFE President Gabriel Johnson organized the event. A nationwide college organization, SIFE is designed to teach students how to apply business skills.
“This is only our second year, but we’re excited to have such a great turnout,” Johnson said. “And we’re pleased to have these speakers here.”
02-15-2007
