Women in Economics hosted a workshop titled “Introduction to Personal and Professional Networking."
Women in Economics is a joint effort between the Resource Economics Department and the Economics Department to empower women+ in the field through scholarship, networking, and opportunity. To promote this mission, in the Spring we hosted a robust workshop titled “Introduction to Personal and Professional Networking.” Professor Ofer Sharone, UMass Sociology Professor, brought his expertise on this topic, exposing our students to important concepts in negotiating. Professor Sharone was engaging and interactive, and there were many great takeaways – how to anchor a negotiation, how to avoid being anchored, how to strategize around deflecting being the first to throw out a number when negotiating a salary, and more. This was a highly interactive workshop, where participants practiced negotiations, and experienced firsthand what the results were if they only had their own limits in mind, instead of trying to put themselves in the mindset of the person they’re negotiating with, considering the other person’s reservation point instead of just their own. Sharone highlighted that there are some ways in which both parties can win, emphasizing the importance of open communication, so people don’t lose sight of their own priorities in the negotiation process. Students participated actively and thoughtfully, and walked away with clear tools to use in their own personal and professional negotiations.