Network Bash is a free event that will allow students the opportunity to acquire skills in the art of selling themselves. This event will have a wide range of industry professionals all brought together under one roof to help teach students the necessary networking skills.

Students who attend will learn the art of pitching themselves, next they will  practice what they’ve learned, and afterwards receive feedback on their performance.  Also practicing in this one-on-one environment, students will gain the self-confidence needed to go out and successfully pitch themselves to either potential employers or clients.

This even will be held November 4^th at the Hendrixs Student Center in the ball room. There will only be enough room for 250 students, so students interested in attend need to RSVP as soon as possible.  More information can be located at http://clemson.networkbash.com. And remember, “Opportunity only knocks once.”

Guest Post by Clemson advanced business writing class

Want to get hands on experience working on a case study with 2 PR Pros
that work for an innovative company? Interested in coming to a PRSSA
meeting that is unlike any of the other meetings before?

Geno Church and Spike Jones will be coming from Brains on Fire to lead a workshop using a real example with one of their clients, Fiskars. They
will also be presenting and helping us work through a case study to give
us practical knowledge that you can use in future PR endeavors. We got a
big room, so let’s fill it up!

When: February 24 at 7:00 pm

Where: McAdams 119

Attire: Business Casual

Cost: Free for members, $2 for non-PRSSA members

Here are the entertaining bios from the Brains on Fire website of the two
speakers:

Spike Jones was born in Dallas, Texas. Not that you should care, since
Spike will never ask you where you’re from, either. After graduating from the “I can’t dance” cult of Baylor University with degrees in
Environmental Studies and Journalism (read: tree-hugging hippie writer), he explored these United States and finally settled at a place they call the Brains on Fire back in the Year of the Golden Dragon (2000).

Spike (Spike to his friends) began here as a storyteller and now handles
new business rock-kicking-over initiatives and contributes strategic input for companies including BMW, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Dagger Kayaks, Fiskars Brands, Yakima, Perception Kayaks, Best Buy and Rage Against the Haze (South Carolina’s youth-led anti-tobacco
movement). Spike sits on the Board of Directors for the Word
of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) and preaches what Brains on Fire practices at speaking gigs, including various private events (Michelin, Biltmore Estates, Susan G. Komen Foundation), the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Public Relations Society of America and the Association of National Advertisers’ Senior Think Tank
Committee. Labeled “one to watch” from an anonymous answerer to our Net Promoter Survey, Spike is smart, good looking, athletic, persuasive and a rock star inside his own head. He also never passes up a chance to write his own bio.

Geno Church is a quoted, sought-after and stalked thought leader in
uncovering the DNA of sustainable word of mouth movements and building them from the ground, up. Seriously. Addys. Wommies. Forrester Groundswell Awards. A gold EFFIE, even.

Companies and organizations Geno’s loved on include Fiskars Brands, the American Booksellers Association, Rawlings Sporting Goods, National Family Partnership, Charleston Parks Conservancy, the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities and Rage Against the Haze (South Carolina’s youth led anti-tobacco movement).  He contributes to the top-ish-ranked Brains on Fire blog Brains on Fire Blog, speaks at events nationally and abroad (we almost lost him in South Africa last year – three times) including gigs with the Word of Mouth Marketing Association, the Public Relations Society of America, American Marketing Association, the New Comm Research Communications Forum, and the What Teens Want 2008 Conference. He is widely quoted in blogs and traditional print on a regular basis. Geno’s Southern, approachable and probably one
of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet. No kidding.

Several Clemson PRSSA students will hopefully attend the networking event hosted by South Carolina PRSSA in Greenville. Event details are here (scroll all the way down to Upstate December Meeting), note that there’s a $15 fee and that you need to RSVP.

I’m also keeping track of students who want to go, so we can carpool. Please RSVP here also if you’d like to carpool.

This might be a good time for some advice about how to network at these professional “parties:”

• know that it’s OK and expected to be nervous
• prepare a brief introduction of yourself. As you approach people, shake their hand, and introduce yourself: “Hi, I’m Mary Poppins, communication student at Clemson. I’m really interested in sports public relations!”
• ask lots of questions. Ask for advice, ask people what they do, what they like/dislike about their jobs, etc. Prepare some questions in advance so you don’t run out of things to ask. People like you more if you listen to them than if you keep talking.
• make business cards for yourself. It’s awkward to carry resumes to a party, but if you don’t have business cards, how will you keep in touch with that person?
• wear comfortable, office-appropriate clothes. Avoid showing cleavage, very short skirts, very high heels, striking makeup. Even though it’s called a party, wear what you would wear a work, maybe a tiny bit more festive. People come to these events after work, and you don’t want to be the only one wearing sequins!
• keep your right hand open and dry. Hold your food & drink in the left hand.
• take it easy on the drinks. If you ask me, stick to non-alcoholic drinks, so you maintain complete control of yourself.

After the party, follow up with the people you connected. Send them an email, connect with them on LinkedIn of if appropriate, on Facebook or twitter. Find a way to keep in touch.

Please be assured that I (Dr. V) will do my best to take care of you and introduce you to people, so you don’t feel abandoned, left out or awkward!

See this blog post for great advice on networking and relating with people one-on-one.