How To Network in College

Once on your college campus, not only does a journey in higher education begin but also the discovery of your professional career. How? The power of networking. By attending classes and conferences, embracing the resources of faculty and alumni, and even doing a bit of online networking yourself, you can blaze the path to a powerful beginning in your career of choice.?

By?Helen Harris

You’ve just arrived on your new college campus. The opportunities seem endless: New friends, professors, classes and events.

And although you are excited about the next four-plus years, you may feel like a little fish in an ocean of possibilities.

Your mind wanders, and you might begin to have questions like “How do I make the most of my time here?”?

Or “Who can I turn to that will help me reach my career goals?”?

And “What events should I really focus on attending?”?

When it comes down to it, you want to know how to best network while you are on campus. And the truth is, there are not only several campus resources available but also networking actions you can take to bolster your success post-graduation.?

The Value of Networking in College?

Networking provides leverage for your future career success, a point tech recruiter Megan Howard stresses.?

“If you just have an education and don't have any relevant experience, it can be really difficult to get your foot in the door at a company,” said Howard.??

The American Psychological Association (APA) backs Howard’s opinion, stating that building a professional network will not only open doors and possibilities for you, but you’ll also begin to gain additional knowledge and skills to help you do your job better or get that job you want.?

“When you network and make a new contact, suddenly there is potential for you to now have access to all the contacts that individual has made,” reported APA. “It may be the case that your skill level or expertise is needed by someone your original contact knows and they put you two in touch with each other. By making a single contact, now you’ve made two. This, in turn, can lead to additional contacts and so forth.”

Campus Networking Resources?

Howard first points to the resource most college campuses have — the guidance counselor. This individual, according to BetterHelp, can help you better understand your educational goals and meet them.?

“Many feel isolated, especially young people who are still developing their voice and their place in the world,” reported BetterHelp . “The United States and about 50 other countries across the world have mandated school counselors, giving young people the resources to meet their challenges and thrive in school and life.”

Howard also mentions you might seek out any alumni resources on campus, as previous graduates of the program you’re in can be excellent resources to help land internships or even just offer course advice.??

Another excellent campus networking resource are faculty members. While you may only see them as assignment graders and lecturers, these individuals can be so much more.?

For example, APA notes that faculty members often have valuable contacts that could open doors for you. Let’s say your professor asks you to reach out to one of their contacts to secure information such as a sample survey for a project or archival data. Instead of viewing this as a chore, it’s actually a great opportunity to make a connection.?

Conferences are another way to get your foot in the door with desired contacts.?

“Conferences will sometimes have social hours which you can attend to meet people,” reported APA . “For example, the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) hosts a social hour at the beginning of their convention where attendees can meet one another and discuss topics of shared interest while enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres.”

But aside from the networking help you get from conferences, alumni groups, faculty members and your guidance counselor, what else can you do on your own time??

How To Get Started Networking as a Student?

You may or may not already know what you want to do with your career once you graduate, but Matt Warzel , career coach and resume writer, states that a great way to begin discovering your career path is to reach out to people in industries that fascinate you.?

“Network and reach out to like-minded people or decision-makers and build a connection,” said Warzel. “Then schedule a time to continuously stay on top of this relationship cultivation.”

Howard adds to this, that networking can be as simple as adding people who interest you on LinkedIn , looking at job descriptions of the types of roles you’re interested in, and looking for relevant internships.?

“Find new career and job openings and the possible credentials you may need to best position yourself in these roles [post-graduation],” said Warzel.?

By doing this, you’ll also be able to find links in the course materials you’re studying, conferences you’re attending and ask any relevant questions you may have about career post graduation and even how to best position yourself on a resume.?

“Building your brand even while in college is super important,” said Howard. “[And in order to do this,] you can join virtual groups, join people that have similar interests as you and reach out to high-level executives.”?

And while reaching out to high-level executives for advice might seem intimidating, Howard assures that at the end of the day, most people enjoy helping others and will find time to talk.?

She states that your note to connect can look something like the following:?

“Hi, _____ .? I'm a junior at _____.? I'm trying to get into the field you’re in and see you’ve had a lot of success. I’d love to connect with you via Zoom or a phone call for a quick chat and learn more about your career story and any advice you may have.”?

Howard says by having conversations, making connections and researching jobs, you even find invaluable internships that will only add to your resume and experience.?

Warzel adds to Howard’s advice, that a great way to network and build your brand is by joining forums, answering questions or posing questions to start a dialogue, as this will continuously push you ahead into thought leadership status.

He furthers that if you are clear on the direction you want your career to take after college (or even if you aren’t), you should brainstorm what industry and role you want to be in. Explore a few options if you are unsure, but the key is to be specific, clarify it, write it down, learn about it and live it.?

You may choose to attend conferences, chat with alumni, embrace student groups or accept an internship. By taking advantage of the networking resources available to you on your college campus, paired with networking efforts of your own, you’ll set yourself up for career success in the years to come.?

Top Takeaways?

How To Network in College

• Networking provides leverage for your future career success.
• “When you network and make a new contact, suddenly there is potential for you to now have access to all the contacts that individual has made.”
• Some on-campus networking resources include your guidance counselor, alumni groups and faculty members.
• “Conferences will sometimes have social hours which you can attend to meet people.”
• “Network and reach out to like-minded people or decision-makers and build a connection. Then schedule a time to continuously stay on top of this relationship cultivation.”
• A great way to network and build your brand is by joining forums, answering questions or posing questions to start a dialogue, as this will continuously push you ahead into thought leadership status.