In this challenging job market, good networking skills complete any serious job-hunter’s toolkit.
That’s a good reason why more than 40 students and college community members attended the recent “Power Networking,” sponsored by Keller Williams Realty. The College of Business Administration’s Real Estate Student Association (RESA) hosted the event, in cooperation with the college’s Real Estate Alumni Affinity Council and the Florida International University (FIU) Council for Student Organizations (CSO).
Pros share their networking know-how.
According to Dan Berkovitz, RESA executive board president, the power-packed agenda featured three of the top networkers from the Miami area: David Lombardi, a leading real estate investor with Lombardi Properties; Richard Lombari, director, Keller Williams Realty; and Daniel Vaisman, senior vice president, Robert A. Brandon, Inc., who is a prolific networker and successful South Florida insurance executive. The three speakers shared their tips on how to make connections in today’s business world.
“Each had a different personality type and a different approach to successful networking,” Berkovitz said.
William G. Hardin, director of the college’s real estate programs and RESA faculty advisor, thinks the event taught the attendees networking skills that can be put into practice immediately.
“Two things stand out from ‘Power Networking,’” he said. “One, you have to have a strategy for networking and know how it affects your business, inclusive of your values and skills. Two, it does you no good to be ‘best’ at anything if no one knows it.”
“As the old saying goes, ‘It’s not always what you know but who you know,’ and this RESA event once again emphasized the importance of good networking skills,” said Solomia Khavko. “As a student, it is very easy to get discouraged about your career goals, so I found the program to be an amazing experience. It was not only inspiring but also motivating and entertaining. The three hours I spent there were a good investment of my time.”