What do you do if you're an intern trying to network and build professional relationships?

Interns, listen up! Start strong. Make contact, be bold. Network like a pro, build those relationships. You’re the future leader. Step up and shine!

Attend Events and Workshops: Take advantage of any networking events, workshops, or seminars offered by your internship program or related industry organizations. These events provide opportunities to meet professionals in your field and make connections. Engage with Colleagues: Take the initiative to introduce yourself to your colleagues and supervisors. Be friendly, approachable, and willing to learn from others. Building relationships with your peers can lead to valuable connections and mentorship opportunities.

Building relationships is crucial to developing your career executing projects and build your internal reputation. 1. Be curious, ask who you can speak with about certain topics in other teams and departments 2. Engage in extra or alternative projects to build relationships with other functions 3. Where possible work with and visit other offices, functions and teams to build relationships and exposure.

An internship is your interview with a company, but it is also you interviewing the company. Don't waste that opportunity. Make an effort to contact people a couple levels above your supervisor and in other functions in the company. Utilize your unique position to obtain a cross-section perspective. Is this a place you want to work? Can you grow? What should you continue to learn when you return to school? What skills are valued in the area you want to work in first and after that? Be a detective and learn as much as you can from as many as you can.

Consistently delivering high-quality work and actively participating in professional conversations can help solidify your reputation and attract opportunities for collaboration and advancement.

The best thing you can do is clearly demonstrate that you value another professional’s time. More importantly, be clear and upfront about the value you can bring to the relationship or team. Give real consideration what you can offer in exchange for people’s time and expertise. Perhaps you can help with a project, clear some lower priority items of their to-do list, or provide insights on a topic of interest to them. Most accomplished professionals work in a time deficit so don’t assume they’re sitting around waiting for someone to take under their wing. You’re buying access, exposure, and insights into their success through your ability to contribute to their short and long-term goals. Make sure you can articulate how you can do that.

As a civil engineering intern in Canada, networking is vital. Attend industry events, join associations like CSCE or TAC, and use LinkedIn for connections. Seek mentorship from senior engineers, volunteer for projects, and always be genuine and respectful. Building relationships takes time but is key to long-term success.

Offer to help with projects or tasks that allow you to work with different teams and individuals. Participate in any committees, social groups, or professional networks within the company.

Adding value identifies you as a valuable and significant employee within the organization. Demonstrate your ability to go beyond expectations and stand out among your coworkers. On the other hand, when you add value, you are contributing to the success of the organization, whether by improving efficiency, generating additional revenue, reducing costs or improving quality. This will make them remember you and can help you build strong, positive relationships with colleagues, clients and supervisors.

One of the most powerful phrases I use when I am not entirely sure what to ask... "Say more." 1) It makes people feel GREAT, because you're giving them the space to continue speaking about what they know. 2) It might surprise you where they take the direction and you'll have more fruitful conversations.

Ask questions and show genuine interest in others’ work and experiences. Seek to learn from every interaction and conversation.

During a learning period, A mentor in other end can easily understand your interest in the subject based on your behavior. If you are curious you will be engaged in the the conversation by actively listening by raising meaningful queries. In my experience, I would say majority of the people are happy to help. If they realize we have that curiosity to learn they will not hesitate to put extra effort to assist us.

As an intern, curiosity is your best asset for networking. Ask thoughtful questions and show genuine interest in others' experiences and insights. Listen more than you speak, absorbing the knowledge shared with you. This approach not only helps you learn more about your industry but also demonstrates that you value others' expertise. People are often more willing to invest time and resources in someone enthusiastic and eager to grow. Hosting my leadership podcast has shown me that genuine curiosity fosters meaningful connections and professional growth. Embrace this mindset to build lasting relationships.

Ask questions, show genuine interest in other persons work. Listen carefully and pick up on things that expand your knowledge. Stay Curious!

After meeting someone, send a follow-up email or message to express your appreciation and interest in staying connected. Keep in touch regularly without being intrusive.

I encourage my team to send thank-you messages after meetings, expressing gratitude for the time and insights shared. For instance, after attending a conference, one of our team members sent a follow-up email to a keynote speaker, thanking them for their inspiring talk and sharing how it resonated with our company's values. We also regularly share articles or industry updates with our contacts to keep the conversation going. These small gestures show appreciation and keep the lines of communication open, nurturing professional relationships that can benefit us in the long run.

Do what you say you will, when you say you will. You would be amazed at the number of people who don't. You will stand out by following through. And don't forget to spellcheck.

After meeting someone, whether in person or online, follow up with a thank-you note or message. Express your appreciation for their time and the insights they shared. Maintaining communication is key to building lasting relationships.

If you want to make lasting connections, you have to follow-up. Very rarely do people create good relationships without following up. When you do reach out after an initial meet, it shoes the other person you value that relationship and in turn sets the mood and initiates the long term relationship.

There are plenty of ways you can expand your network, however you need to be clear on your offer. What value can you add to their network? A unique perspective? A personal experience of using their brand? Consider how to convert a token connection into a lasting connection.

Utilize professional networking sites like LinkedIn. Connect with colleagues, join relevant groups, and participate in discussions. This can help you connect with professionals outside your immediate network.

Show genuine passion for the subject, person's role or brand you are connecting with. Ask meaningful questions and give the contact a good reason to accept your connection and answer your message.

If you're surrounded by good leaders, one of the most rewarding things for them is to share their learnings and advice to others, especially those in early stage in their careers. Those leaders recognize that they are where they are because of the help they themselves received from other leaders who once they looked up to. So seek for feedback regularly from senior leaders, listen and show appreciation and recognition to the impact that such feedback/advice will have in how you will drive your work and career. They will appreciate and want to invest further in you.

Seeking feedback is always valuable to see different viewpoints, rethink your methods, learn from mistakes and consider alternative approaches that you might not have considered. Embracing this with an open mind will lead to not only professional, but personal development and improved performance

Seeking CONSTRUCTIVE and DETAILED feedback is vital in just about every aspect of your professional and personal growth. Without valuable feedback, growth comes to a standstill. So when trying to network and increase your connections, it's a good idea to share and be open to different views and opinions. Not only does this help increase communication and collaboration, but it allows opportunities to seek further discussions that could add value in areas needing improvement.

Seeking feedback is an integral part of professional growth. I encourage my team to routinely ask for feedback after completing projects. For instance, after finalizing a major outsourcing contract, one of our project managers sought feedback from both the client and our internal team. This approach highlighted their commitment to improvement and opened up valuable discussions. The constructive criticism received helped them refine their skills and enhance our processes. By actively seeking and acting on feedback, we demonstrate our dedication to excellence and foster stronger professional relationships built on mutual respect and continuous learning.

Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. This shows your willingness to learn and improve. It can also help you understand how others perceive you, which can be valuable in building professional relationships.

Be open, yet conservative. When I say this, I mean that people should take risks that might make them uncomfortable, yet guarded enough to not damage their perception or self image. Being able to be comfortable around others you are trying to network with helps create an atmosphere that is inviting and appreciated by others.

Keep trying, keep learning, keep growing, and never give up. As long as you're motivated to learn and grow personally and professionally you will get to greater places than you think you can.

Remember that networking is a two-way street. It’s about building mutually beneficial relationships. Be patient, as building a strong network takes time. And most importantly, always maintain professionalism and respect in all your interactions.

Everyone starts somewhere, and most professionals are keen to share their wisdom with eager, up-and-coming talents. Keep an open mind, be yourself, and don't be afraid to reach out.

BFFR - like seriously. I can tell when an intern is being fake and not being themselves. Be yourself, please. Also, if someone offers to help you, think of how you can help them in return. Favors don’t have to be transactional but your professional relationships will continue to flourish when you offer something as well.