When it comes to networking, Josh is a reliable authority. In the four years since his graduation from Dartmouth College, Josh has forged an impressive career path from a consultant with Deloitte, to CEO and Founder of his own companies, to his current position as a consultant at iRise.

"Everyone is always telling us to network – that most jobs are found via word of mouth and through personal connections.  Back when our parents were our age, networking meant something very different than it does now.  It was face-to-face, handshakes, business cards swapped and put into rolodexes.  Maybe someone knew someone and could introduce you.  Sometimes there were drinks involved.  It was a socially-based thing.  As society has moved to being more automated and online, networking has changed and morphed, and we have to learn to work our networking skills both online and in person."

An "elevator speech" is a 30-second overview of your interests, skills, and goals. The term comes from the average time it takes to complete an elevator ride.  The "elevator speech" is a prepared presentation that grabs attention and says a lot in a few words; namely, who you are, your most salient interests and skills, and where you hope to go in the future.  Having a memorized elevator speech will allow you to clearly articulate your goals, and take advantage of spontaneous networking opportunities.

Hamilton Trustees are back on campus this week, March 3-5. One of their priorities when they return to "The Hill" is to spend time with students, including opportunities to talk with students about their career plans. Because of their extensive professional experience and networks, they may be in a position to advise you with your own career plans. Several formal opportunities have been scheduled to facilitate this interaction. Please plan on attending and taking advantage of their expertise.