Academic Success Series
Academic Success Center
UNLV
How to create positive first impressions
Classroom etiquette
Speaking to your professor
How to write an email
What is networking?
Networking and internet presence
Consider the following questions and then fill in your best guess:
It takes 30 seconds to make a first impression.
It takes approximately 20 more meetings to change/undo a bad first impression.
55% of our message is through our body language.
38% of our message is through our tone.
7% of our message is though our words.
Source: http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/FirstImpressionsGreetingsNames.pdf
So what goes into first impressions?
Appearance
o Clothing
o Context
Demeanor
How you communicate
what’s important?
o Body language
o What has your attention?
How do you want
people to see you?
WHAT YOU KNOW VS. WHAT YOU PRACTICE:
Arrive on time
Eliminate distractions
Don’t have side conversations
Don’t do other work
Don’t ask if something will be on the test!
Don’t ask if you missed anything important!
Don’t be an NSHE number!
Common courtesy
Professors vs. high school teachers
Office hours
What do they do/study?
Be aware of your surroundings
Subject
Clear and meaningful
Ex: Internship at U of X Summer 2015
Greeting
Appropriate and professional
Ex: Dear Professor/Dr. X/Ms. So and So/Mr. Y, Hello, Good morning
Message
Brief and polite
All relevant information included
Reiterate the subject
Closing
Say thank you
Signature
Professional signatures clarify who you are
First and last name
Use your UNLV email
Timeliness/Being considerate
When asking for help, offer a solution
Check your spelling and grammar!
Provide times of availability – Email can be a slow process.
Acknowledge replies, email back a thank you.
Follow up.
Source: http://www.wikihow.com/email-a-Professor
ACTIVITY: We are going to play
“What’s Wrong With It?”
The presenter will read a sample email
and ask for feedback regarding:
What parts of the email are missing?
How the content could be improved?
The student was responding to an email sent by his
Academic Coach that provided handouts on workshops and
resources on Study Skills and Test Anxiety:
What’s wrong with this email?
How could we improve his response?
From: ([email protected])
Date: Fri, Sep 20, 2013 at 6:20PM
Subject: Re: Success Series and Test Anxiety Workshops
you rite cause i actually got anxiety rite now lmao
(No name)
This student emailed their Academic Success Coach asking
for a reference:
What’s wrong with this email?
How should you request a reference? What do you need to
provide?
From: ([email protected])
Date: Thu, Nov 7, 2013 at 8:46 AM
Subject: Reference
Hey I was wandering if I could use you as a reference? I would need
your phone number that’s it. Thank you!
(No name)
Scenarios:
o You have just applied for an internship and want to list your professor as a reference. How would you email that person?
o You are interested in other opportunities to work with a professor, such as research. How would you phrase the email?
o From:
o Subject:
o Body:
o Signature:
Be prepared for your phone call
Answer the phone appropriately
Clearly express what you need in order to reach the right
person
Leave a professional voicemail
Phone #: Say it twice
Spell your name (even the “easy” ones)
Why these relationships matter
o Approach all situations with good intentions and a positive attitude,
and you will be surprised how it benefits you later.
• Job References
• Help with grades/absences
Maintaining a network and public persona
o LinkedIn, Academia.edu, Facebook, Twitter
o Google yourself
Get involved (community or school)
Use resources available to you
Academic Success Series
UNLV, Academic Success Center