1) Do not walk in cold. A week before going to the conference, perform research about the people who will be there so that you can plan out who you want to meet. Hence, breaking the ice will be easier.
2) Dress properly and try to stand out from the rest of the crowd. Avoid clothing that makes you look odd, awkward or "different" from the others in the conference.
3) Carry utilities, like a portfolio, to organize your business cards and receiving business cards. This is because fumbling is very unprofessional and should be avoided.
4) Walk confidently and always have a smile on your face because powerful people want to meet and cooperate with those who look professional. Being clumsy or depressed should not be options.
5) It is best to go to the food area because people usually hang around there. Also, food is associated with socializing, which means it can be used to your advantage.
6) At the food area, keep your right hand free so that you can shake hands and interact with people who are eager to speak to you.
7) Scan the people around the room first. This is going to make it easier for you to choose your targets and the path you will use to get to all of them.
8) It is best to approach VIPs first, at least 15 minutes before they start their speeches. This is because they are valuable contacts and they become busy after delivering their speech.
9) It is also a really good idea to spot the lone wolves first. This is because it is easier to speak more privately and integrating into large circles can be very difficult. Talking to individuals is also the most effective way to network.
10) When talking, ask others about themselves so that you can connect to them and make the conversation much more enjoyable for you and them.
11) When asked about yourself, be brief and say your name last so that they can easily remember it and stay in touch.
12) When approaching someone, be the first one to extend your hand. Also, shake hands before departure especially if you are a woman. This procedure is professional and friendly.
13) Ask open-ended question to see if the other person will be helpful or can provide what you are looking for. Also, make sure the conversation is not one way; this can make it awkward, unproductive and the network will be weak.
14) Be ready to give and receive cards. Keep your and others' cards organized so that they do not mix up. Having people's business cards is important so that they can easily be one of your contacts.
15) When confronting people, it is also a good idea to bring along a mutual acquaintance who can introduce you to the other person.
16) If the person you are talking to is looking for something, you should help them with it so that they are willing to help you or do you any favours. Exchanging ideas and information can be helpful for both people. It can help you connect to more people.
17) While conversing, make sure that there is eye contact. Otherwise, the conversation will be awkward and it could mean that the other person is not willing to cooperate.
18) You should follow up on your contacts after the conference so that you can get to know them better. This can strengthen your network with these people and can also serve opportunities which you can use to know more people.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Network Mapping
1. In total, I have 202 people in my network. When I saw this, I was quite amazed because I am not very outgoing and I am just mildly social. Thus, I have more than enough people to contact and ask information from if I need any assistance with job applications and etc. This really surprised me because I thought that I did not know that many people - I thought I really had no actual network. But, when I mapped this out, I realized that I have so many people in my family, institutions I have participated in and classmates/friends, I can easily reach out to these people for anything that I needed in terms of careers assistance, especially considering that I know so many people with lots of experiences in multiple fields and studies. So, although I was really surprised, this networking map told me that there are many people out there who are willing to share their guidance.
2. Although I have a lot of connections at school and social life, I lack at knowing people outside of school and institutions. For example, I barely know people in my neighbourhood although I have lived here for 5 years. Knowing them will help me learn more about job opportunities nearby so that I can save up for the future. And, although I have participated in many non-profit programs, like those that help immigrants and newcomers become familiar with Canadian society, I really do not have anyone in contact and I did not keep in touch with the people I worked with. Also, although I go to volunteer at populated places like the Mosque and Library, I am not familiar with people outside my volunteer job which is very necessary to branch out to more volunteer opportunities. And, I am participated in French School and Proton Learning Centre, but these people usually have similar interests because they are students seeking help. So, there, I should get into contact with teachers and tutors who have a lot of education experience. These would be great ways to expand on my network.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Microfinancing (KIVA)
Microfinancing
Organization:
KIVA (kiva.org)
Name: Virgen Del Rosario De San Sebastian Group
# of members: 13
Location: Peru
Description:
This group from Peru
As of now, the leader of the group is
Sabina Carlo Flores. She is a 27-year-old mother who has 3 children. She needs
to support her children and herself so that they can have food and so that the
kids can have education like others their age. So, Sabina has pulled together
this group so that they can work together to earn for a living. Currently, a
lot of the money earned by the group comes from Sabina’s business – she runs a
pizzeria. However, the money they earn is barely enough to buy enough of what they
need, like clothes and nutrition. Conditions are tight and the group is falling
short on resources. Thus, Sabina needs the loan to buy more supplies to make
cheese and pizza, which would maximize the group’s income, allowing them to get
all the resources they need in amounts that enough to support everyone.
I would support Sabina because the loan
she needs is not just for her or her business. The loan is also not to just
support her children but to support a much larger group of adults who have
their own children. Lending them the money they need will ensure that they can
live properly and healthily while also promising that all their kids can go to
school and have opportunities to lead a better future. Thus, I would support
Sabina and her group as this is a desperate and combined effort to make
people’s living conditions better.
Microfinancing (Kickstarter)
Microfinancing
Organization:
Kickstarter (kickstarter.com)
Name:
Virgen La Source (documentary film)
Nationality:
Swedish and Haitian
Description:
La
source is a village in Haiti, located near a mountain that channels water. For
the people in the village, the mountain is the main source for clean water – to
drink and for sanitation purposes. However, the government does not fund the
supply of water, making it hard for the people in La source to receive water
for their families. They are left with 2 options – make a long and dangerous
trip to the mountain every day to bring back loads of water or receive unclean
and infected water from nearby rivers.
The
film mainly focuses on the Lajeunesse brothers, who used to live in the
village. Brother Josue moved to New Jersey and found employment as custodian in
Princeton University and a taxi driver. He sends the money to his brother,
Chrismedonne, who works as a carpenter in La source. The money is used by the brothers
to create a channel for the water to travel from the mountain to the village.
I
would support this program because water is an essential part of people’s
lives. These people struggle every day to get clean water. This is holding them
back from education, success and development. Thus, I would support the
Lajeunesse brothers in their work with the village so that this can change the
lives of the many people held back by these third-world difficulties.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Sending a Letter (To: Bryan Cranston)
Who am I writing this letter to?
Bryan Cranston.
Who is Bryan Cranston?
Bryan Cranston (age 56) is an award-winning American actor, writer and
director. He is very famous for his role as Walter White in the AMC TV show,
Breaking Bad, and he is also well-known for his role as the father character
named Hal in Malcolm in the Middle. So far, he has won 4 Emmys for his
outstanding performance as the lead role in Breaking Bad and he has been
nominated several times for his other roles. He is currently working on the 5th
Season of Breaking Bad with a salary of $125,000 per episode. As of now, his
net worth is over $30 million.
Why am I writing to him?
Bryan Cranston has a lot of experience in his profession. He started
his career by portraying minor characters. He was not paid much and
difficulties started to swarm into his career. However, he managed to move up to the highest positions
in American drama after gathering more experience and expanding upon his talent.
His hard work led him to become one of greatest stars on TV and allowed him to
win lots of awards. Also, throughout his career, he has shifted between the
types of environments he worked in. For example, he has moved from Comedy to
Dark Family Drama within a short period of time while still keeping up his
reputation. Although I have no objective of being an actor, I still want to be
like him. My prime intent is to be a physician. That takes 10 years at least.
It is much like Cranston’s career. So, I want advice for him to see how he was
able to build up on his career over such long periods. Also, as a doctor, I
will have to deal with different patients and fix various situations. This is
much like Cranston’s life in the entertainment industry – moving from Comedy to
the depths of total seriousness. So, I want to know how he has learned to deal
with different types of people and used these interactions to become better in
his career.
So, here’s the letter…
Dear Bryan Cranston,
My name is Tahmid Zawad. I am from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I used to
be a big fan of your hit TV show “Malcolm in the Middle”. I always liked all
the hilarity and drama. Now, I am an even bigger fan of your work in “Breaking
Bad”, which I would say, is the best TV drama series I have watched. I think
you are an amazing actor and the way you blend in with different environments
in acting – from comedy to dark drama to action – always greatly inspired me. Watching
amazing actors such as yourself, I have always wanted to be big and successful
although I may never win an award so prestigious like the Emmy. In short, your
work and achievements are very inspiring.
It inspires me even more than you have worked so hard to achieve your
fame and respect as an actor, currently being at the peak of your career so far.
I understand it did not start off easy as you had to begin by playing small roles.
Your career moved slowly but, in the end, you achieved BIG. And that is why I
want to ask you for advice. I want to go to medical school by the time I am 20
after finishing bachelors in life sciences. Then, it will take roughly over 10
years to become a licensed physician. So, my career path is very slow and I have
to be really patient to be able to be successful while also being competitive
to become a doctor out of the many, which is very similar to the way the
entertainment industry, works. Also I always enjoyed how could so easily change
from being “Hal” to “Walter White”, hence moving from comedy from more serious
drama. Since I want to be doctor, I will have to deal with and get used to
different types of people and conditions, while also making myself better at my
career, which you always did. Thus, I would like to ask you about how you were
able to build up on your career on your path to success. I would really
appreciate if you told me more about your life story and about the important
things you learned from life that worked for the better part of your career. I
would be very pleased because this would give me a more clear idea of the “real”
world which comes after high school. And I am sure your advice and guidance
will allow me to make better decisions.
It was a great pleasure writing this letter. Thank you for your time
and consideration.
Sincerely,
Tahmid Zawad
Monday, April 16, 2012
Good Advice
Letters I read:
President George W. Bush, New York Governor George E. Pataki, North Dakota
Governor Edward T. Schafer, Northern Mariana Islands Governor Pedro P. Tenorio,
Maine Governor Angus S. King Jr., Louisiana Governor Mike Foster Jr., Hawaii
Governor Benjamin J. Cayetano, Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton, Iowa Governor
Terry E. Branstad, and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura
My 5 favourite quotes:
“Always do your best. Be a doer, not a
critic. If you are fortunate enough to take something out of the system, put
something back to it. Give life everything you’ve got – don’t look for the easy
way out.” – George H. W. Bush, page 5
Old
Bush’s words inspired me especially because despite the way the media presents
them in modern day, Bush has come a long way and his words show me that there
is a lot to learn in life. What he is saying is true and not many people often
refer to such things. Most people tend to watch and complain about how politics
go back and forth. But, Bush is saying be a “doer”, meaning we must take the
idea for the need of change as our responsibility and take it in own hands.
Also, when he says that it is better to avoid “the easy way out”, he is saying
that we should not rely on others and we should use all our abilities for the
things we want, giving life “everything you’ve got”.
“… I believe in simple things: truth,
idealism and fighting for what’s right. And I believe that people have the
right to know what I am doing to improve the quality of life. I also believe
that government must serve the people, not the other way around.” – Hawaii Governor
Benjamin J. Cayetano, page 23
There
are many layers to Cayetano’s quote. And, his quote proves his honesty and that
he truly looks out for the people. This makes his words very meaningful and
respectable to me. Normally, politicians would ignore the needs of the people
and go to support corporations and so. But, this man understands that there is
something wrong with this system and he confidently speaks out against it. He
shows that the government must serve the people and oppress them. This is
something many politicians are afraid to do. Thus, his words show his courage
and he truly inspires me.
“I would have has absolutely no success if I had
stood around waiting to be invited into the game. I got into politics because I
wanted to see things change and I realized that no one was going to listen to
me if I didn’t speak up. I did, look where it got me!” – Minnesota Governor
Jesse Ventura, page 47
Changes
do not just occur. People are involved in it. If you want a change, you must be
a part of it to make it happen. That’s what Jesse Ventura did. He did not just
sit there, he pushed himself into “the game” and changed things and made them
the way he wanted them to be. He stood up, spoke out and turned his life upside
down. This is telling people that if they really want something, they should
not just make a wish but also make it come true. That is what Ventura is
telling us, and his quote is much related to that of Bush and Governor
Cayetano. And he just does not speak his thoughts; he speaks out his actions –
as examples. Thus, his words are indeed meaningful to me.
“… It is important to all of us that you do
(study, work hard and achieve) – after all, you, and all other young people of
our country, are out future” – New York Governor George E. Pataki, page 57
It seems to
be often forgotten that children of this generation will be the leaders of the
next. Pataki’s quote tells us that children are the drivers of the success of
the future. This gives a lot of meaningful to the many pressures and
difficulties youngsters go through during education, often wondering why they
need to do it. Pataki answers this confusion very clearly and precisely. “We
are the future”. This makes us imagine that if we do not work hard, the world,
to which we shall be leaders, will fall apart. This pushes us to do our best at
school – because, without our dreams, there will be no future. Thus, I like
this quote a lot and this should be a constant reminder to those kids who pay
no importance to education.
“My philosophy has long been to set my goals
high, work hard, and I will achieve those goals. My father instilled me the
belief in work hard and commitment to your goals. It has served me well in
private and public life.” – North Dakota Governor Edward T. Schafer, page
61
Governor
Schafer tells us that we must set our goals high and work hard to achieve
success. This is in fact, true. When people set high goals and go beyond their
limits to achieve it, they become unstoppable and go on a rampage to get what
they want. And that is the key to being happy and successful in life. Setting
low goals and being lazy has always worked otherwise. Thus, we must never
underestimate our potential and we must always look forward to that extra mile
that we can surpass. For, success is defined by how far one can go and Schafer
has a very nice way of presenting it.
THE END.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Finding Purpose
1)
Despite having my own reasons to come to school,
my parents and other external sources have shown me alternate reasons to come
to school.
a.
My parents want me to come to school because
they want me to be educated. They want me not to just pass, but also be among
the best. They believe that being among the top in all subjects is the key to
success. Also, it is something for them to brag about to their friends who also
have children my age. So, it also comes down to a matter of competition because
to the average immigrant parent, their child’s grade determines where they
stand in society.
b.
My culture, although it has qualities that are
not vibrant in Canada, still strictly focuses on people’s success and literacy.
My culture puts people in their places and positions in their lives based on
grades and success. If I were to stay with my culture, I would need to get
amazing grades, be successful and wealthy. If I wanted to choose my life
partner from my cultural background, marriage is only an option when I have
high grades and a clearly bright future. So, culture wants me to go to school
because without success, and education, people will look down on you and less
people will support you. Thus, overall, it is all about respect and
recognition.
c.
My friends have also given me multiple reasons
to come to school. This is because there is no other place for us to build a
strong friendship through cooperation and hard work. School is also a major
factor that brings friends together and keeps them close together. Thus, my
peers are also a reason why I come to school.
2)
Although there is pressure from family and
culture, I generally ignore their expectations and look up to my goals and
expectations. I come to school because I want to find out how I will be
successful. I want to know what area of knowledge and work fits me the best. I
want to find out what interests me the most and what I am the best in. Thus, I come
to school because it balances out my choices and shows me which career I should
take that would make me the most successful.
My grades are quite good, in my opinion anyways. My average is around 92
at school. I have subjects which I am really good at: Careers (<100),
Biology (95), History (94), Mathematics (94-97; undecided by teacher), and
French (95). Then, there are subjects that I am mildly good at: Computer
Science (around 90), Interdisciplinary Studies (82), English (>84). My
grades are like this because although I spend so much effort in certain subject
areas, I reduce my focus in other subject areas. Thus, I am inconsistent. If I
used more energy and study time, my lower grades would catch up with the higher
ones, hence increasing my overall performance. Also, I tend to become lethargic.
So, I lose my ability to use all of my skills and potentials to perform
incredibly in each subject area. If I
had put all of my effort to work, I could have achieved an over 95 average.
Thus, I conclude that I am pleased (for now) with my grades but not fully
satisfied because I know that I can do a lot better than what I already
achieved at school.
3)
I am obviously unsatisfied with certain results
of my performance during this school year, but I think I improved a lot from
last year. Last year, most of my grades were in the 80s and some were in the
low 90s. My average was around 88 in Grade 9. I was not satisfied, especially
considering so many of my peers being better than me. However, this year in
Grade 10, although I did not put in 100% effort into my work, I still worked
harder and managed to achieve a lot better in grades as compared to last year.
My average rose by a lot and I am much better than most of the friends who did
better than me last year. So, I am proud of myself. Also, this allowed me to
gain a lot more confidence and encouragement, meaning I am determined to put
more effort into school in Grade 11. So, I achieved big this year although I am
not fully satisfied.
4)
Since I am in Grade 10, within the next 4 years,
I have a lot to achieve:
a.
Firstly, I want to gain an average over 95 to
greatly increase my chances of getting into the best Universities in Canada
b.
Also, I want to get the highest grade in Biology
and Mathematics because these are tools that will help me become a doctor
c.
I want to get into Life Sciences at UofT
d.
I want to get an average of over 95 at UofT to
increase my opportunities of being a participant at Medical School
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