Summer 事件 and the Season of Networking

Can a summertime social lead to professional success?

It might be a bit of a stretch to claim that a social interaction can make or break an individual’s 职业生涯 prospects, but savvy networkers know that social interactions are integral to effective network building – and that includes 事件 during the summer 季节.

“利用 UNC Bear网络 and taking part in alumni 事件 are easy ways to find people you share a common bond with because at the end of the day we are all Bears,” shares alumnus Jason Brinkley ’04.

Brinkley, a Denver-based attorney, is a member of UNC’s 校友董事会 where he contributes his time and expertise toward strengthening the university’s 校友网络. 

“Two of the most important aspects of building a strong professional network are finding people you share a common bond with and then following up with those people once you have had a chance to meet with them one on one.”

Fellow 校友董事会 member Alex Lewis '10 agrees, adding that "Having a mutual and shared experience is critical to making long-term connections at networking 事件. I've leveraged my shared experience at UNC to help develop quick and meaningful connections with alumni at networking 事件."

UNC’s alumni association makes the process of meeting fellow alumni, easy by providing opportunities to connect in person and online. Assistant director of special 事件 克里斯蒂娜•爱德华兹 is responsible for planning and promoting the alumni association’s signature 事件, 包括暑期节目. She works with alumni volunteers like Brinkley and Lewis to promote the association’s efforts to build and strengthen alumni connections with 然后回到联合国军司令部.

Edwards looks for interests, or affinities, shared by a group of alumni, such as class year, industry or geography and then plans an event or program that brings the group together to facilitate network building.

“参加校友活动 is the perfect opportunity to meet new people and enhance your innate 校友网络,” says Edwards.

This summer UNC is hosting the fan favorite 落基山脉的皇冠app官方版下载, a number of special interest 事件, and will close the 季节 with Bears Fan Fest tailgates at Florida and CU.

“I’m most looking forward to the Rockies event this summer, it will be a great opportunity for alumni to connect with one another and UNC, especially for our recent graduates who are just beginning their 职业生涯s,” shares Edwards. “我们预计会有150名校友 to participate this year, including many of our younger graduates.”

For large 事件 like the Rockies game, participants can expect to meet a lot of fellow alumni, with several leading to professional connections. 参加校友活动 may seem intimidating at first, so the alumni association offers resources for alumni to gain the confidence and experience to make the most of their attendance.

“A Bear Network Live chat is an easy first step to practice networking conversations and gain the 职业生涯 advice and confidence recent graduates are seeking for before attending an alumni event in person,” says 克里斯·加西亚08年, assistant director of alumni relations.

Garcia recommends scheduling time to practice networking conversations, and plan to send follow up emails and LinkedIn invitations to fellow participants. 当事件发生时 is a great opportunity to socialize and engage with fellow Bears, the additional effort alumni take before and after an event makes a real difference in putting their network 工作.

“我们的办公室每月举办一次 Bear Network Live networking chats, offers 职业生涯 resources and hosts 事件, because we believe that an 校友网络 is one of the most valuable resources graduates have when they leave UNC. 我鼓励 alumni, especially our recent graduates, to make use of the alumni association as they build their 职业生涯s and network,” advises Garcia.

Smart scheduling, networking conversations and personal follow-up will turn your summer social calendar into a 季节 of network building. 

“Take these opportunities to meet, connect and stay in touch with alums, and in very short order your network will grow and new opportunities will present themselves,” 布林克利表示.