Networking Strategies at College

Almost everywhere you go and anything you do professionally involves connecting with people. Finding a new job and advancing your career can be easier if you build relationships with these people. The most effective way to find a new job is to network, network, and network some more.

The challenge is figuring out how to do it. What is your first step? Whom do you contact? What do you say? How long will it take? Where do you concentrate your efforts? How do you know if your investments will pay off?

• Get to know your professors: Communicating with instructors is a valuable way to learn about a career and also get letters of reference if and when needed for a job. Professors can also give you leads on job openings, internships, and research possibilities. Most instructors will readily share information and insights with you. Get to know your instructors. They are a valuable part of your network.
• Check with your college’s alumni office: You may find that some alumni are affiliated with your field of interest and are happy to have a conversation with you about their experiences.
• Check with your college’s career development office: You can learn about open job listings, employers who will be coming to campus to recruit, and organizations that have a history of hiring students from your school. You can also meet with a career counselor who may be able to introduce you to other contacts who can provide more information.
• Check with classmates: Classmates may or may not share your major, but any of them may have leads that could help you. You could be just one conversation away from a good lead.

Networking Strategies at Work

• Join professional organizations: You can meet many influential people at local and national meetings and events of professional and volunteer organizations. Learn about these organizations. See if they have membership discounts for students or student chapters. Once you are a member, you may have access to membership lists, which can give you access to many new people to network with.
• Volunteer: Volunteering is an excellent way to meet new people who can help you develop your career, even if the organization you are volunteering with is not in your field. Just by working alongside others and working toward common goals, you build relationships that may later serve you in unforeseen and helpful ways.
• Get an internship: Many organizations offer internship positions to college students. Some of these positions are paid, but often they are not. Paid or not, you gain experience relevant to your career, and you potentially make many new contacts. Check CollegeRecruiter.com for key resources.
• Get a part-time job: Working full-time may be your ultimate goal, but you may want to fill in some cracks or crevices by working in a part-time job. Invariably you will meet people who can feasibly help with your networking goals. And you can gain good experience along the way, which can also be noted on your résumé.
• Join a job club: Your career interests may be shared by many others who have organized a club, which can be online or in person. If you don’t find an existing club, consider starting one.
• Attend networking events: There are innumerable professional networking events taking place around the world and also online. Find them listed in magazines, community calendars, newspapers, journals, and on the websites of companies, organizations, and associations.
• Conduct informational interviews: You may initiate contact with people in your chosen field who can tell you about their experiences of entering the field and thriving in it. Many websites have guidance on how to plan and conduct these interviews.

Networking Strategies at Home and Beyond

• Participate in online social media: An explosion of career opportunities awaits you with social media, including LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and many more. You will find an extensive list of suggested sites at CareerOneStop. Keep your communication formal and professional at these sites. Read blogs and magazine articles. If you find one that’s relevant to your field and contains names of professionals, you can reach out to them to learn more.
• Ask family members and friends, coworkers, and acquaintances for referrals: Do they know others who might help you? You can start with the question, “Who else should I be talking to?”
• Use business cards or networking cards: A printed business card can be an essential tool to help your contacts remember you. 

Sources for Developing Professional Networks

The bottom line with developing professional networks is to gather information from as many sources as possible and use that information in creative ways to advance your career opportunities. The strategies listed in the section above provide you with a comprehensive set of suggestions. Below is a summary of sources you can use to network your way to career success:

• meet-up groups
• social media
• volunteer organizations
• networking events
• headhunters
• co-workers
• classmates
• conferences
• career centers
• internships
• magazine articles
• career counselors
• vendors
• administrators
• special events
• alumni association
• part-time job
• websites
• family members
• college professors
• coaches
• technology tools
• professional organizations
• job club
• career coaches
• advisers
• guest speakers