Charlotte Magazine – July 2019

26 CHARLOTTEMAGAZINE.COM // JUNE 2019

“I KNOW I’M SUPPOSED TO NETWORK, but it sounds awful.”

My business communication students know they need to

network to get jobs. They envision entering a large room full of

strangers and having to introduce themselves. If they succeed,

they will get job o€ers.

Well, that is terrifying; those stakes are pretty high.

True, you will have to introduce yourself to people you don’t

know. That’s why you’re there—but an actual job o€er is prob-

ably still several conversations away.

Six questions you can ask to make networking events less

intimidating:

What can you do to manage your anxiety? Do some research,

get some practice, check out the venue—whatever you usually

do to reduce your fear of the unknown.

What can you do to plan ahead? Identify something you

want to learn. (For instance, at Queens University of Charlotte’s

Schmoozapalooza event this spring, I asked recruiters what

opportunities their companies have for mid-career applicants

with relevant experience but non-traditional career paths—a

question many of my coaching clients ask.) Decide what you’ll

wear and test it out. Figure out how you’ll gracefully carry copies

of your résumé.

What can you do to change the stakes? It’s not realistic to

expect instant job o€ers at initial meetings. What’s more rea-

sonable? Set other, smaller goals. For instance, introduce your-

self to three people, or acquire three business cards.

What can you learn from this experience? Make some

notes about what you did well. What will you do di€erently

next time?

What can you enjoy about it? Networking events only last a

few hours. You might surprise yourself.

IN THE 11 YEARS SHE’S LIVED HERE, Amber Smith
has published three novels. Her debut, The Way I Used
to Be, landed on the New York Times bestseller list in
2016 and cemented her prominence as a young adult
author. In her new novel, Something Like Gravity (June
18, Simon & Schuster), the Bu alo native introduces
readers to Chris, a newly out transgender teen who
falls in love with Maia, who is grieving the loss of her
sister. Charlotte magazine spoke with Smith about her
new book and the inspirations she gleaned from
her time living in North Carolina (edited for clarity and
space). —Emma Way

Charlotte magazine: Something Like Gravity is
set in a ctional rural town in North Carolina.
What inspiration did you pull from your time in
Charlotte?
Amber Smith: I was already working on Chris’
story when everything happened with HB2 (North
Carolina’s 2016 state law, since repealed, also known
as the “bathroom bill”). It was so upsetting and so
heartbreaking to me as a queer person, though I’m
not transgender. I really wanted to write about Chris
because I feel like there is so much happening right
now with LGBTQ people that really makes me feel like
history is repeating itself. COURTESY

ALIX FELSING is an executive coach, teacher, and editor. She helps people

navigate change more e ectively. Reach her at [email protected].

THE GOOD LIFE

BOOKS

QA: AMBER SMITH

This local author’s third YA novel will give you all the feels

PERSPECTIVE

Network-Life Balance

Job seekers have to do it—and it’s terrifying. Here’s how to manage

BY ALIX FELSING

CM: What do you hope your readers get from

this book?

AS: I originally completed this as two separate

books. As I was working, I re—ected on what was,

and is, going on in society with LGBTQ rights. It made

me think that I needed this story to be about more

than just coming out as transgender, and in Maia’s

case, more than just dealing with this massive loss.

So I decided to bring them together in a love story

because that is such a universal experience—every-

body has a ›rst love. Our di erences are amazing,

and they make us who we are, but there are things

we all have in common.

CM: All three of your novels deal with emotional,

and sometimes very personal, topics. What’s the

hardest part about writing these stories?

AS: It can be really hard to write about dižcult

issues like trauma and identity. But in the end, I

always ›nd that when I’m writing, it can be really

healing as well. I’m always thinking about, ‘What

were the type of books I wish I would have had

around when I was a teenager?’

Hear Amber

Smith talk about

Something Like

Gravity at Main

Street Books

in Davidson on

JUNE 18.