As you make your way through college you will find that you will constantly be receiving feedback, advice, and criticism. It will come from professors, advisors, mentors as well as so many others you will find along the way.
What you will hear will not always be good or what you want to hear, but when you are given advice be sure to listen to it as it may be something that will help you in the future. The advice will come from classes, but it may also come from guest speakers or extracurricular activities. So always keep your ears open.
As a senior, I have listened to and heard a lot of advice over the last three and a half years of college. But the best I have received has come this semester, in my sports communication class. We had a guest speaker present in class one day and he took questions at the end of the presentation.
The question was asking for advice on how to network in regards to career options. The speaker’s response was to make genuine connections. Do not connect with someone and then forget about them. Keep in contact with them and build a relationship.
Making genuine connections are so important, because if you do not take the time to actually get to know someone then you will not be able to get anywhere in life. Further, once you have succeeded it is important to remember where you came from. That’s why being genuine in your pursuit is good.
It will also be helpful when you accomplish what you are trying to do. Furthermore, when you reach a point in your job or career you will want to have a circle of connections that can help you, so burning bridges or not being genuine in your pursuit will hurt you.
Being genuine is better than not. It is also more fun while you are growing and pursuing your career. It will allow you to enjoy the journey instead of trying to muddle through the journey.
Saying something is always easier than actively doing it, but being genuine is not as hard to apply to college life and your networking as you may think. You can show you care in many different ways.
When you intern in different businesses or in schools, make sure to seek out teachers and leaders in the building or listen to them as you work alongside them. See how they work and try to apply that to your style of work.
Make sure you are included in the community of your workspace, whether it be a school, business or another atmosphere.
So if you take anything from any advice provided, remember that being genuine will get you further than not.