Networking is one of the top strategies to track job and career advancement opportunities and build strong professional connections. In fact, 80% of professionals ensure career success with networking!
However, you must not wait until you join the workforce to start networking. Consider starting from your academic life itself to make the most out of your connections.
If you’re uncertain about how to get started, here are some useful tips!
1. Utilize campus resources
Schools have different facilities, including relevant clubs, alumni associations, and career centers, that can prepare you for the professional world. Join clubs and societies related to your academic field or professional goal. Here, you’ll find several students with similar interests and objectives. These connections can turn into valuable professional connections with time.
On the other hand, career centers host networking events, career workshops, and networking events. In these events, you’ll be able to meet established professionals from the field. You can show interest in knowing them and gather useful knowledge from them. Alumni associations also conduct networking events where they invite previous graduates. This is perfect for seeking mentors in the industry of your choice.
However, if you can’t find the right mentor from your campus, consider joining the best online high school; this platform connects you with world-class champion mentors in your field. They’ll help you with your studies while also offering additional resources to shape you for the professional world. Besides choosing a mentor of your choice, you’ll also get to schedule classes at times that fit your hectic routine the best!
2. Get a part-time job or internship
Part-time jobs and internships are ideal for networking within an industry. It also offers you real-life experiences, so you’ll build the required skills in your field. You will get many opportunities to connect with reliable professionals you can depend on in the long run.
During this part-time gig or internship, go out of your way to meet individuals from other departments. If there are networking events and team meetings, never miss them. Be proactive at work and seek and follow others’ advice. This will show them that you have potential. So they’ll be eager to stay in contact with you.
Most students expect internships to lead to job opportunities. If not, they lose contact with everyone. However, this is a huge mistake. Instead, you must show your resilience and sporty spirit by staying connected with coworkers and supervisors.
Send a personalized ‘thank you’ LinkedIn message or email to everyone. To stay connected and make them remember you, reach out sometimes. Share updates about your academic and career progress and mention how you use their guidance in daily life.
3. Connect with professionals worldwide
Don’t restrict networking to your locality alone. Instead, connect with global professionals through different channels. For starters, build a neat LinkedIn profile. Since you’re still a student, mention your academic qualifications and career goals. If you have joined internships, mention the projects you’ve been involved in and the skills you’ve learned from school and work.
Next, follow relevant professionals and companies in your field, join professional groups, and like and comment your thoughts on relevant posts. Send connection requests to relevant individuals you know personally.
You can also politely request informational interviews with renowned industry hot-shots. However, if you want to be frequently connected to the best industry professionals, then enroll in the best virtual schools. On such platforms, you can get mentored by one or more professionals.
Moreover, you can connect with global students and interact with them through discussion boards. Through group projects and assignments, you can identify the most promising peers and build a flourishing network.
4. Show interest in community work
Volunteer in a cause of interest. For instance, if you’re pursuing environmental science, look up and volunteer in local conservation groups. It will help you pay back to the community while getting to work and interact with individuals with diverse backgrounds.
This is a great opportunity to learn new skills and connect with relevant individuals. You can also highlight your commitment to the cause, which will impress the top connections. They will be more eager to stay in touch if you have similar thoughts and beliefs. Moreover, it will offer you great on-field insights and be a great addition to your resume.
Conclusion
Networking is a staple for smoothly navigating through your professional life. So, start practicing these strategies right now. Keep an eye out for reliable connections, and you will build the foundation of a strong network!