Dialing in to your first advisory call

Odds are likely if you are a student, recent alum, or new to Wisr, you haven't participated in many conference calls. A conference call has become the standard meeting format when networking, and your first conference call is typically referred to as an "intro call".

Here's what you need to know:

1. Dial in 3-5 minutes early - it takes a minute to connect, and it's rude to keep someone offering their time waiting. Make sure you are in a quiet place, where you can focus and take notes
2. Introduce yourself, provide 60 seconds of background, and use your agenda to guide you

Here's an example:

Advisor: "Hello"
You: "Hi, is this Addison?"
Advisor: "Yes, Mindy?"
You: "Yes, this is Mindy, thank you again for your offer to connect"
Advisor: "My pleasure, so how can I help?"
You: "Well, before jumping into the agenda, if it would be helpful, I thought I could give you some quick background on me and what I'm studying at Wisr U. I'd also love to hear more about your background"
Advisor: "Great, sounds like a plan"
You: [Nice, short background on you, what your passions are, and where you need help]
Advisor: "Thanks, that's very helpful" [more background on me]

At this point, you'll probably have an organic conversation. If at any point you feel lost, stick to the agenda

It's usually good form at the 30-minute mark, if the conversation is still going well, to say "I see we're at 30 minutes, I'd love to continue chatting, but I want to be respectful of your time. Do you have more time now, or should I schedule a follow-up time?"

And always remember to thank the person if you've had a good call. A follow up thank you goes a long way!