Holiday Socializing Made Easy

With the winter holidays right around the corner, you may find yourself happily looking forward to parties, cookies, being with family and friends, sleeping late, or spending a few days doing only what you want.

But if lurking behind that anticipated joy are thought bubbles of:
What if someone asks me what I’m doing after graduation…
Or where I am applying…
Or do I have a job yet…
Or if I overhear someone say, "WHAAT? They have no idea what they’re majoring in?" read on!

Examples below will help you politely answer and briefly use an elevator-style introduction before you delve into conversation and do some career research. Common courtesy, soft skills, networking – all unwrapped and well-received.

If you are – or know – a young adult looking for a job, an internship, or a teen applying to college, knowing that these kinds of questions come up and knowing how to respond can be the difference between staring at the floor, bursting into tears, or running from the room and instead having a cordial and confident conversation.

SO …. Prepare for socializing!

TIP for Parents:

Make sure you have a game plan going into the holidays to help your kids deflect if they don’t want to “talk college” with family, friends, or complete strangers! Show them how to respond with a nod or smile, and give them the following examples of appropriate replies that don’t disrespect anyone.

Keep in mind that most people will be making conversation or genuinely expressing interest in you and what you’ve been up to; they’re not trying to be intrusive or working for the National Enquirer.

When people ask…

Q: What have you been up to since I saw you last?

Q: What are you majoring in?

Q: What are you doing this summer?

Instead of replying, “Not much, I guess,” or “Not sure,” or “Traveling somewhere, or maybe looking for a job,” followed by an awkward pause, you can smile, tuck your phone away and confidently reply!

Say this…

A: Say a few things about yourself. You are:

• in college
• majoring in “xyz” or considering a major in “xyz”
• working as a [fill in the blank]
• volunteering at [fill in the blank]
• overloaded with classes
• enjoying a seminar on [fill in the blank]
• looking for an internship or summer job

And then pivot to a question for them!

• How are things with you?
• Work going okay?
• How did you decide on a career?
• I heard you are selling real estate; how did you get into that field?
• Tell me more about yourself.
• What careers or industries interested you when you were younger?
• Do you have any advice for young persons interested in your field?

See how easy it is to engage in polite conversation, show interest in others, and ask good questions? And you've done it all while informally networking!

THIS ISSUE'S FAQ

Q: What is an elevator pitch and why do I need one?

A: Simply put, an elevator speech is a conversation starter to introduce yourself, start conversations, gather information, and network toward opportunities. As discussed above, these conversations can happen anywhere, anytime, in formal or informal settings.

You’ll want to think about what to say so you can take advantage of opportunities. Craft your intro by asking yourself a series of questions and putting your responses together.

See how it all fits together in this article.

Client Spotlight

I’ve changed the name to protect my client’s privacy, but here is an example of someone who came to me with questions about a career path.

Diane's Corner

Why and how I revise my own elevator speech. Even a seasoned professional needs an easily accessible and adaptable self-introduction!

Although I'm a sociable person, I am often briefly unnerved walking into a room where I know no one. I sometimes get nervous when we go around a conference table and I have to introduce myself. Over the years, I have learned that thinking ahead reduces the jitters.

I think in advance about:

• Who will be there and sometimes google or use LinkedIn to learn more about specific individuals I expect to be meeting
• Why I’m attending or participating in an event
• What the group or audience might be most interested in knowing about me
• What I might want to learn from others
• What to share (Sometimes I simply share where I’m from or how I’m connected to the organization or host. Sometimes I do a thumbnail intro that includes what I do or how my earlier careers led to my current work. Sometimes I want them to know what I bring to their table or how I became interested in particular issues.)
• How I’ll navigate personal icebreaker questions: What will I say if I’m asked to tell something about myself that no one knows or describe a terrifying experience or my most embarrassing moment

Although I might make a few notes to myself in advance, I don’t memorize a “canned 1-minute elevator speech.” But because I’ve thought about it in advance, I can widen my comfort zone and engage conversationally.

I'm looking forward to sharing more newsletters with you in 2024! In the meantime, I wish you a joyful holiday season, whatever you celebrate and wherever you are. I hope the coming year brings us a more peaceful world.

Diane

P.S. Here are a few related links from around the web. In case you're wondering if companies hire during the holidays, read this. • Networking isn't a natural ability for most; that's why there's so much advice out there and why it takes practice. • Self-awareness is crucial for success in the workplace (and helpful when answering questions from inquisitive friends and relatives during the holidays).

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dianegeller@gmail.com
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