It’s said that networking is one of the most powerful skills to master to get ahead of the game. As a student, entering the workforce and building a career can be accelerated by knowing the right people and putting yourself out there. Here’s a handy guide on how you can start networking to build contacts as a student at university.
Start with what you already have - who do you know?
You’re a student; no one is expecting you to know big executives in any industry. But one simple thing you can do is look around your university.
Your lecturers, tutors, and professors are very experienced individuals, and they often know people in the industry. Look them up on the university website, read about them, Google them - get to know their industries and achievements. And the next time you see them, you can start asking them questions about it. Anyone likes a curious student, and if there’s a particular industry or goal you have in mind, don’t be afraid to shoot your shot and say you’re interested in it. Ask who they know that can help introduce you or get you through the door - even as shadowing or getting involved for the day, even as a LinkedIn contact.
However, I do recommend building a relationship with the staff members first, so it doesn’t come across like you’re asking a stranger. Professors are happy to help, but it comes more naturally when they actually know who it is they are helping.
Another good one to mention here is classmates. Get to know them, their interests, personal values, and if any person makes you feel inspired or fascinated - that person is probably going places. Students who have dreams and are driven are the good ones to befriend - that doesn’t mean pretending to be friends, but keeping it friendly can never hurt; look at these relationships like potential investments; the more time and effort you put in them, the better the result.
Societies and clubs
Make a list of your interests, both personal and professional, and join relevant societies or clubs at your university. Show up regularly and make an effort to get to know the members and participate in any projects or social gatherings. You have the advantage of shared interests. This reinforces the previous point about building quality relationships and investing in them. Many people end up going into business with university buddies from back in the day so you never know when keeping in touch might come in handy; the world is very small sometimes.
There can also be opportunities to build your CV within these clubs - become the Marketing manager or do the socials for your society (you might not even have to do much, but you can still pop it on your CV!)
Extracurricular activities - workshops, campus events, guest lectures
Keep in the loop with what’s happening around your university; sign up for the newsletter and check the calendar or website regularly. Keep your eyes peeled for any careers fairs, workshops to learn extra skills, guest lectures, which are a big opportunity to connect, and lastly, employer coffee chats organised by your university. The point is, leverage every event to your advantage and always go in prepared with at least 2-3 good questions you can ask that will give you some information and move you closer to finding a good contact.
LinkedIn is the go-to platform for professionals and is great for making connections. It can feel overwhelming when you see what everyone else around the world is achieving, but everything starts with who you know, so before you get stuck in the loop, remember this is just another tool in the toolbox to help get you where you want to go.
Keep your profile tidy, with a professional clean photo (ideally not a selfie), add your university and your interests, start following pages in line with your professional interests, and if you do get involved in any projects around the University, consider making a post about it to showcase your progress. You can connect to your lecturers and professors or guest speakers, so it’s then easier to connect to anyone in their circle.
Volunteering and projects
Getting involved around the university helps you build your skills and portfolio (hello LinkedIn!) From student magazines, newsletters, exhibitions, and research groups - getting involved in anything that builds skills is better than nothing. Even if you don’t realise it or you think it’s not relevant to your interests, these projects come with transferable skills that you will use later on, and shared work helps you meet new people.
There are loads of things going on around universities, whether it’s social media or freshers’ week related, an extra hand will never be turned out, all you need to do is ask the right person!
Don’t aim to get something - aim to stay in touch
As a closing point, networking is really just maintaining light, positive contact over time - you don’t have to go and find a new best friend, just contacts that know who you are, that can potentially get you through the door in the future. It’s good to follow up every two months to check in with what they’ve been up to, what new aspirations or projects they have. Networking is only successful if you stay in touch, and with the help of platforms like LinkedIn, that’s easier to do through commenting on their posts and dropping in a hello message
