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Dinner with strangers.…

It’s more than a meal.  It may sound unusual, and having dinner with people you haven’t yet met may sound a bit unappealing; but, the premise is simple:  sit down to dinner with strangers; get up from the table with new friends.  The ultimate goal of Dinner with Strangers is to strengthen the Fox School community.  In addition to good food and conversation, the program is attractive because students get a chance to network with alumni and corporate partners, and interact with faculty outside of the classroom.   Finally, “Dinner with Strangers” embodies the three components of the CSPD Professional Development model:  impression management, career & industry awareness, and personal development.

Want to participate?  Our next dinner is scheduled for February 3, 2010 at 5:45pm. We promise an exciting mix of undergrads, alumni, corporate partners, and faculty in a relaxed environment for exchanging ideas, information, and experiences.  Our last “Dinner with Strangers” event was held on Thursday, November 5, 2009, and student, alumni, and corporate partner response was outstanding!  More DWS’s are planned for Spring 2010.

Step 1.  Complete an application.  Go to the website for the Center for Student Professional Development at The Fox School of Business, complete the application and press submit. Participants can apply to attend as an undergraduate, alumni, corporate partner, faculty, hosts or co-host.  CSPD will contact you if you are selected and for which date.  Most dinners last up to 2-1/2 hours.

Step 2.  Have good questions and be a good listener.   Someone from The Center for Student Professional Development will attend the dinner to facilitate conversation; however, good questions are the key to a great dinner.  Good questions reveal that you are directed and driven.  So, a question such as, “What should I do with my life?" would be not advised.

Step 3.  Don’t expect miracles.  Dinner with Strangers is an investment in your professional development;  however, all investments take time to yield results.  Attending Dinner with Strangers will not drop a dream job in your lap; however, the participants will want to help rising stars.  Ask, “What skills should I develop to become an industry analyst?" rather than, “Can you get me a job in investment banking?"

Step 5.  Have fun, but prove you’re serious.   If someone at the dinner suggests you volunteer for project X, or enroll in a specific course, implement the suggestion, do well and thank him or her for the advice because you learned a lot and were able to shine.  You’ll find that people are much more willing to devote time and energy after you’ve proven to be a quick and eager study.

Want to participate in Dinner with Strangers?
Students, Faculty:  Contact Janis Moore Campbell at jmcampbell@temple.edu.
Alumni:              Contact Jessica Cestone at jcestone@temple.edu.
Employers & Corporate Partners: Contact Megan Rimer at mrimer@temple.edu