Maintain good relationship with American professor

• Why you should maintain a good relationship : First and foremost, you receive a grade from your professor. While he shouldn’t give you a lower grade just because you don’t have a good relationship with him, why take a chance on that happening? A professor may have many professional contacts and even an outside consulting practice. Therefore, he may be able to give you a referral to people who could give you a job or know someone else who could.

• Raise your visibility with your professor: You should speak up in class AND also periodically meet and speak with him. For example, if you have a question about something your professor covered in class, you might meet with him. If you’d like to do a project or are already engaged in one, you might seek his input on this endeavor. If you’re concerned about your performance on a test, on a paper, or in class, you might also seek his feedback. Or, if you’re looking for an internship, part-time position, or full-time job, you might meet with him to ask for a reference or ask for a referral.

• Always be prepared to meet with professor: In this regard, before you meet, be sure you’ve assessed your professor’s perspective on whatever you’ll discuss and your purpose with discussing this topic with him. Also be ready to state your main point concerning this subject.

• Always follow up with your professor:You’re telling him how you’re using his input to improve your performance, conduct a project, or approach your job search. Or, you’re giving him an update on a reference or referral he’s provided.Whenever you have information that he would want to know, you should send an email to your professor. And you should send this email as soon as possible. For example, if you interview with someone he refers you to but you don’t email him about this interview, his colleague might contact him before you do. If this happens, your professor might feel caught offguard and, therefore, annoyed with you.

• Remember to send a thank-you note to your professor: Here are 3 key reasons: 1) thank him for helpful input on a project, your performance, your job search, or some other topic you discussed during a meeting; 2) thank him for providing a reference or a referral; or 3) thank him for what’s transpired—like a worthwhile job interview or job offer—because of a reference, referral, or suggestion he’s provided.Whenever you appreciate his efforts on your behalf, you should send an email to your professor, and you should send this email as soon as possible. For example, if a colleague that he referred you to hires you but you don’t tell your professor, most likely, he will find out “through the grapevine” (via other colleagues). If this happens, he may be offended and consider you’re ungrateful. As a result, in the future, he may not be willing to help you.

• Always be polite to your professor

• Avoid saying American cultural no-nos: See Avoid American cultural no-nos.