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A beginner's guide and reading list to jobhunting and networking
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<blockquote data-quote="BasketBounce" data-source="post: 163987" data-attributes="member: 3923"><p>Bookmark'd both this and the W-D-N-H-C thread, both have valuable info. </p><p></p><p>Gonna use this thread as a place where I can share my experiences and reflect on how using certain techniques outlined in this thread and in Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence people help me out.</p><p></p><p>My interest is in biotech and biomedical engineering. I'd like to create my own start up one of these days. I know relatively little about this industry, so my first step is to identify where exactly my interests lie. I figure the best way to do that is to get some practical experience in a biotech/bioengineering lab that is doing something I find remotely interesting. </p><p></p><p>I met up with my friend yesterday who is a biomedical engineer. I focused on <strong>smiling</strong> when we first met, and he smiled a lot, too. Unconscious mirroring? Who knows. I need to do more tests to see if smiling really makes much of a difference. </p><p></p><p>The conversation started with him talking about his side hustle, which has very little to do with engineering. I did not rush to talk about engineering; in fact, I asked him many questions about tour guiding. What sort of route do you take around the area where you give tours? How big are your groups? How did you come about finding this job? When do you give tours? Why did you decide to be a tour guide rather than something else? </p><p></p><p>I did not ask these questions in rapid fire, interview style. I asked one open ended question, and he answered it, and then we meandered on that topic for a little while. For example, when he talked about how big his groups were, I made a statement about how he must have to talk very loud to make sure everyone hears him. He said he did, and that got him to talk about how many of the people in his audience are from different countries, so not only does he have to speak loud, but he has to speak slowly, too. And bam, another place topic where the conversation can go. Asking open-ended questions seems to be the best way to keep them talking.</p><p></p><p>Eventually my friend starting talking to me about his engineering gig <strong>completely of his own volition</strong>and I asked him for advice about getting started in the engineering industry. He gave me a few suggestions of places that are actively looking for people with little experience. I am now making plans to meet up with them in a few weeks.</p><p></p><p>Reflecting on this conversation, I can't say if <strong>appearing genuinely interested</strong> is the cause of him connecting me to these people. Maybe he wanted to be nice. Who knows what would have happened if I had been very blunt and said "Hey, I want a job, help me out please". </p><p></p><p>Ways to improve: Outside of simply hanging out with the guy, I don't see how I appeal to my friend's interests very much. He has some goals that I could help out with in the future, but as of right now, I am somewhat unessential to some of his personal goals that he outlined to me in his conversation. The strength in our relationship comes simply from my ability to listen without interrupting him and for my tendency to judge his experiences in a positive manner. Meh, maybe that's all he wants from me.</p><p></p><p>Any thoughts on maintaining contacts in the long-run? Seems like the way to go is to befriend people and keep in touch via phone conversations until you can use them later. I am having trouble seeing the point of maintaining long-term connections that are not presently beneficial to you. The way I see it, there will always be new people to meet, so one should not waste time keeping up with people who do not add value to you or help you accomplish your goals.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BasketBounce, post: 163987, member: 3923"] Bookmark'd both this and the W-D-N-H-C thread, both have valuable info. Gonna use this thread as a place where I can share my experiences and reflect on how using certain techniques outlined in this thread and in Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence people help me out. My interest is in biotech and biomedical engineering. I'd like to create my own start up one of these days. I know relatively little about this industry, so my first step is to identify where exactly my interests lie. I figure the best way to do that is to get some practical experience in a biotech/bioengineering lab that is doing something I find remotely interesting. I met up with my friend yesterday who is a biomedical engineer. I focused on [b]smiling[/b] when we first met, and he smiled a lot, too. Unconscious mirroring? Who knows. I need to do more tests to see if smiling really makes much of a difference. The conversation started with him talking about his side hustle, which has very little to do with engineering. I did not rush to talk about engineering; in fact, I asked him many questions about tour guiding. What sort of route do you take around the area where you give tours? How big are your groups? How did you come about finding this job? When do you give tours? Why did you decide to be a tour guide rather than something else? I did not ask these questions in rapid fire, interview style. I asked one open ended question, and he answered it, and then we meandered on that topic for a little while. For example, when he talked about how big his groups were, I made a statement about how he must have to talk very loud to make sure everyone hears him. He said he did, and that got him to talk about how many of the people in his audience are from different countries, so not only does he have to speak loud, but he has to speak slowly, too. And bam, another place topic where the conversation can go. Asking open-ended questions seems to be the best way to keep them talking. Eventually my friend starting talking to me about his engineering gig [b]completely of his own volition[/b]and I asked him for advice about getting started in the engineering industry. He gave me a few suggestions of places that are actively looking for people with little experience. I am now making plans to meet up with them in a few weeks. Reflecting on this conversation, I can't say if [b]appearing genuinely interested[/b] is the cause of him connecting me to these people. Maybe he wanted to be nice. Who knows what would have happened if I had been very blunt and said "Hey, I want a job, help me out please". Ways to improve: Outside of simply hanging out with the guy, I don't see how I appeal to my friend's interests very much. He has some goals that I could help out with in the future, but as of right now, I am somewhat unessential to some of his personal goals that he outlined to me in his conversation. The strength in our relationship comes simply from my ability to listen without interrupting him and for my tendency to judge his experiences in a positive manner. Meh, maybe that's all he wants from me. Any thoughts on maintaining contacts in the long-run? Seems like the way to go is to befriend people and keep in touch via phone conversations until you can use them later. I am having trouble seeing the point of maintaining long-term connections that are not presently beneficial to you. The way I see it, there will always be new people to meet, so one should not waste time keeping up with people who do not add value to you or help you accomplish your goals. [/QUOTE]
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