No matter how old you are or where you’re at in life, meeting new people and building a network can be intimidating. For young students just starting out on their journey, it can be downright terrifying. But it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I’m speaking with Julie Crenshaw, author of the bestselling book Navigating & Avoiding Awkward Conversations, and she has some beneficial tips to share that can give your teen a confidence boost as they begin to connect with future employers and educators.

EPISODE NOTES

No matter how thorough your high school student’s college list may be or how detailed the plan is, it’s impossible to achieve any of their goals without reaching out and connecting with other people. Whether it’s emailing a college admissions officer, requesting a job shadow, or sitting for an interview, it can be scary for your teen to put themself out there. Sometimes though, as Julie reminds us, all it takes is a shift in perspective to help get rid of some of those jitters. When your student understands that the other person is just trying to get to know them, it can help your student overcome the crippling fear of judgment.

In this episode, you and your teen can explore the give and take that exists in a productive conversation. It’s not always about being interesting; you’ll want your student to also be interested in the person they are talking to, while still putting their best foot forward. Rather than feeling like they have to sell themselves, or being afraid of what might go wrong, with Julie’s advice and tips on navigating conversations and interviews your teen can be confident in their ability to express themself and determine their right path.

Highlights 

• What your interviewer wants teens to know before the interview
• How and what to practice ahead of time
• Addressing your teen’s lack of experience
• What to avoid that may ruin the interview

Links mentioned in this episode

Lisa’s Student Email Guide & Templates
Launch College & Career Clarity Course
Launch College and Career Clarity Facebook Community
Your Conversation Expert Website
Julie on Instagram
Julie’s Small Talk Guide 

TIMELINE

[5:11] How to overcome the anxiety that comes with reaching out to new people

[10:00] Why people often have hobbies that don’t seem to align with their careers, and how talking about them with others can be a way to connect

[13:18] How to know if a certain area is actually a good fit for you.

[18:37] What not to do when making connections with people

[22:03] How to have an answer for tough questions, or questions with less-than-ideal answers

Connect with Lisa:
Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingco
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co