On Thursday, I attended this “Networking Luncheon” sponsored by soo many of Baruch’s business clubs (including ASCEND, NABA, WIB, GK, PES, VITA). I didn’t realize how many different business clubs Baruch really has. It got me thinking that, although there are so many groups, they all fight for the same club hour time slot. So even if there were two awesome business events I (or anyone) wanted to go, it’s not possible to go to both! What a shame. During the middle of the event, each club representative went to talk about their club briefly, and to advertise their next event. To me, it sounded like every club was practically the same, except some had fees higher than others, and some had GPA requirements. So how can I find a student organization that knows to set itself apart?
Anyway, I went to this event expecting and knowing that it would have some representatives from large corporations (such as Deloitte and PwC). Sadly to say, many students were expecting recruiters to be there. Deadlines for spring internships have already passed (so obviously they weren’t aware of what they were doing…) It was just a bunch of young representatives from companies wanting to share their experiences…
I spoke to two accountants from Deloitte, just so I can get a feel of what that company offers (besides a competitive career), and it seemed these two people (Josif and William, hah! I still remember, but I don’t know their last names, so I can’t find and thank them [bad move on my part]). Both were Baruch graduates so it made me really positive about life after graduation. In all honesty though, accounting sounded REALLY boring.
Moving along, I was able to exchange a few words from a PwC employee, who was also a Baruch grad (yet I can’t remember her name). She was told to give a little speech after each club’s mini-intro. Her speech was very motivating because she spoke of how she was always hard-working, and how she was president as ASCEND. The most important thing she said was to be genuine. I can’t agree more. It seems like college forces people to not be themselves, or to show only a polite side so no one gets to really know each other. Well, I don’t really see a point in lying (like not being yourself to others) or even during an interview because it is apparent, and it’s no fun.
I didn’t get a chance to speak with other representatives, but it was a learning I experience. I’m trying to work on my networking skills… and this was just one step!
Oh, as an end note, the food was great. There was veggie-sushi and sandwiches. I made myself coffee, wheeee. It was great. This woman said I was awesome for making coffee with one hand. (She was a Becker CPA review rep.) Oh yeah, we also had to be in business attire, which goes against the whole be yourself thing, but that’s a rant for another time.