California Career Briefs: Start a Conversation

                  

 

“Conversation costs nothing, but can bring you the world. ”

- Catherine Blyth, The Art of Conversation

Start a Conversation

Did you know?

In a flat, global economy the ability to connect and engage in critical conversations isn’t optional- it’s a survival skill. While e-mail, texting and social media have changed the way today’s students are interacting, these technologies encourage faceless and fragmented communication. We need to help our students branch out from the comfortable confines of their computer screens and cell phones and develop the face-to-face conversational confidence and experience they need in the professional world. After all, conversations build relationships; relationships build networks; and networks are a job seeker’s most valuable tool. This activity gives students an opportunity to make conversation connections to grow their personal and professional networks.

Try this…

• Ask them…
  Why are conversational skills important in finding a job?
  How many face-to-face conversations do you have each day?
  How would you rate your conversational skills?
• View video.
• Demonstrate making a conversation connection with a student in class.
• Distribute the Student Activity, review the directions and complete.
• Find out how many people made a personal connection with their partners.

Add an Experience!

Identify several Professional Association networking opportunities in your community. Post these events and award credit for attending the event and making professional or personal connections with 2-3 attendees. Suggest students visit the CACareerCafe and learn to Network Like a Pro.