Night of Networking

On Monday, October 27, I attended a networking event in Grupp Fireside Lounge on campus. The event was titled “IMC Alumni Panel: The Power of Influence” and ran from 5:15-7:30 PM, but unfortunately because of work, I was unable to stay for the entirety of the event. However, while I attended, I felt I learned valuable information and made some connections. Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) professionals from the Buffalo area and Canisius alumni attended the event to discuss social media, consumer behavior and branding among other IMC related topics. I attended the event alone and was definitely a bit nervous, especially because I didn’t know who would be there or what to expect. I am normally a pretty outgoing person who enjoys meeting new people, but going to an event where you know no one in hopes of making connections to possibly further your future career is a bit nerve-wrecking. I’ve met and talked to several people prior to this event about my resume and plans after graduation, but have never done so in a setting such as this. I remember wishing I had brought someone with me, but luckily once I arrived, everyone was welcoming and friendly. Other than the IMC professionals who were there to speak about the latest trends in the industry, mostly students attended. The event was pretty informal giving us time to listen to the alumni speak and then to also speak with them and other students. I met and spoke with Canisius alumni with who work at Yahoo! as well as Fisher-Price. It was also nice to be able to meet and mingle with other Canisius students who I’ve never met or spoken with prior to the event. It was also reassuring to know I wasn’t the only person feeling a bit nervous about not only the event, but the future. Although I originally wasn’t too excited about attending this event, I am very glad I went. Listening to and talking with professionals who are already working in the field was very beneficial. I was given great advice and hopefully made connections that will be useful. I think this experience gave me the networking skills and the boost of confidence needed to get myself out there and prepare for my future.