MIX & MINGLE: 3 Minutes is Enough.

One of the most crucial ingredients that college students should have before further pursuing their careers in the future is to have inspiration and motivation. These could come from different sources – such as your professors, friends, family, people you look up to, or professionals in the industry. And when an opportunity to spark that inspiration and motivation arises, it is only reasonable to hop on that train. The Mix & Mingle event by the Enderun Hospitality Hub (E•HHUB) was the perfect opportunity at Enderun Colleges to help college students with their future endeavors in their respective careers.

Headed by Elisha Faith Saquilayan, the Mix & Mingle event was, needless to say, a success from beginning to end in all aspects. It started out with some icebreaker games, which were made specifically to help everyone to be comfortable and to get to know one another. The attendees were soon led to Resto101 at the Culinary Arts building to start off the networking portion of the event, to which the esteemed guests were each given a short introduction by Ms. Bel Castro before the mixing and mingling commenced. The Enderun Food and Wine Society served and prepared drinks and food throughout the event.

Mix & Mingle had quite an impressive lineup of special guests, from alums and old professors to hospitality industry professionals and more. The attendance of nine esteemed guests graced the evening, including Chef Joma Tuano, an Enderun Colleges culinary program instructor, followed by his fellow alums Ms. Mikaela Lopez, a Corporate Leadership Trainee at the Grand Hyatt Manila in BGC, and Mr. Diego Virata, the Sales Director of Estate Wine Inc. Mr. Martin de Castro, an accomplished hotelier, former professor at Enderun Colleges, and the ​former Assistant Vice President at Shangri-La Group, was also in attendance. Another guest was Mr. Mac Florendo, the founder of Food Rescue Philippines, a Magician, and a Creative Storyteller. The night was also met by Mr. Emmanuel Espiritu, a Leather Crafter, Mystery Performer, Mentalist, and Mind Reader; Mr. Neo Folgo, a community health worker prioritizing the Tuberculosis Program; Mrs. Katrin Arcala, A development worker trained in monitoring and evaluation and knowledge management of foreign-funded projects, and finally, Mr. Jofer Abata, a freelance videography and video editor.

Be Curious

When it comes to networking, making connections and creating relationships is key. How, you may ask? Be curious. — Just like in any good conversation, curiosity harkens back to building rapport. When you’re curious about someone and what they do, it shows that you’re interested in them as a person and not just their job title or professional stature. So be curious about people, their backgrounds, and their professional goals. You might learn a thing or two, whether personally or professionally.

Making the most out of 3-minutes

When it comes to networking events, it’s often said that quality is better than quantity. But what if you only have a few minutes to spare? Is it even worth trying to network in such a short time frame?

The answer is yes! Even just a few minutes of networking can be beneficial if you use your time wisely. Here are some tips for making the most out of three minutes of networking:

1. Smile and make eye contact. First impressions matter, so take the time to smile and make eye contact with the person you’re speaking to. This will help them remember you and make a positive impression.

2. Ask questions and listen. Instead of just talking about yourself, ask the other person questions about their business or industry. Then, really listen to their answers and follow up with additional questions. This shows that you’re interested in them and want to learn more about what they do.

3. Offer your professional information, such as your emails. You can also offer to connect on LinkedIn or another social network if you’d like to stay in touch online.

4. Follow up later. If you said you’d follow up on something, make sure you do! Sending a quick email or LinkedIn message after meeting someone is a great way to keep the conversation going and continue building your relationship.

Sparking Inspiration

When we hear the word “networking,” many of us immediately think of stuffy business events with awkward conversations and business cards exchanged. However, networking doesn’t have to be boring, and it can even be fun! If you’re looking to spark some inspiration, The Mix & Mingle event by the Enderun Hospitality Hub was the perfect event to do just that.

At a mixer or mingle event, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people from all walks of life, exchange ideas, and maybe even make some new friends. Who knows, you might just find your next big idea at one of these events!