Student Networking Presentations: Cultivating Communication and Critical Thinking Skills in the Asynchronous Virtual Classroom

More work is now completed in a remote setting than ever before. As the skills demanded by employers evolve to meet changing workplace demands, communication remains a noted deficiency for recent college graduates. To bridge this skill gap, we present a format translation of a qualitative interview exercise that has been reimagined for use in the asynchronous online classroom. As a supplement to the several peer-to-peer networking activities already available in the management education literature, the current project provides a structured environment for online students to engage in a real-world networking interview with a business professional of their choosing. Through the activity, students hone their networking, communication, and critical thinking skills as they utilize a variety of Microsoft Teams tools to practice interviewing and presenting in a virtual, asynchronous setting.