The Low Down

Welcome to the Columbia alumni community, Class of 2016!

Officially turning the tassel from "students" to "alumni" is one of the most exciting moments for new grads. But it can also be a time of uncertainty, especially for those still considering the next career move in their post-schooling lives.

You're not alone. And so we asked your fellow alumni from the Columbia Career Coaches Network to share their best post-graduation career advice to new alumni.

By Melody J. Wilding '11SW of the Columbia Career Coaches Network

Originally published on melodywilding.com

Networking can be, at times, awkward and even produce anxiety. The thought of reaching out to people you don't know to build potential business relationships can seem daunting. How do those "super connector" social butterflies carry themselves with such confidence while others stammer and stutter?

As it turns out, there's a psychology to relationship building that will not only help you feel more secure when meeting new people, but will also transform your stack of business cards into meaningful connections that may advance your career.

Remember, confidence and relationship building are not skills we're born with.

Here are four ways to leverage what we know about human behavior and the brain to become a better networker and to create relationships that last:

If you’ve thought about making a career change or sought job advice recently, you may have come across the Columbia Career Coaches Network – a group of over 20 accredited professional alumni career coaches who provide fee-based consulting and volunteer for the Columbia Alumni Association’s free professional development programs throughout the year.

One of those coaches is career expert Caroline Ceniza-Levine '93BC who is also a regular contributor for Forbes and Money and Time.  Earlier this year, Caroline wrote about ways to structure your networking pitch, an important asset to develop at any professional level. 

Check out Caroline’s advice below: