Networking may be a crucial skill you should master early in life. Many students overlook the benefits of networking, believing it’s something they will be doing much later. In reality, you might want to learn how to meet new people and maintain relationships as early as college. Even if you prefer to be a loner, you want to surround yourself with like-minded people, so it would be easier to get through life.
Building your network is a part of your student experience you should manage. Just like dealing with avalanches of homework, connecting with an online essay writer to ease your experience, or managing your part-time job, networking requires some consideration. You don’t need to push yourself to socialize whenever there’s a party or do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Networking implies making meaningful relationships that benefit you and those with whom you connect.
How to network like a pro
Your network begins with your family and expands beyond your classmates and college staff. You can go further from meeting other students and try these places:
- Visit professional or cultural events.
- Attend seminars, workshops, and talks.
- Career fairs and other events where you can share your contacts with professionals.
- Attend events that interest you and will benefit your career.
- Volunteer at local initiatives and events.
Try to avoid these situations:
- Don’t force yourself to be out all the time.
- Give yourself breaks and recharge your social battery.
- Maintain the relationships you create – it’s all about quality, not quantity.
- Don’t expect everyone to be your friend from the get-go.
There is no perfect formula for meeting the right people. You simply introduce yourself and follow the flow. The rest is to nurture healthy relationships with your new connections.
Why networking matters
You might think it is unfair when potential employers and colleagues value networking just like they would value your professional skills or knowledge. Why should it matter how many people you know, anyway? There’s a good reason why people who know how to network are deemed better candidates for a position. It is not about how many people you know but the relationships you maintain with them.
Striving to meet new people pushes you out of your comfort zone. You get valuable experience in healthy professional communication and understanding of your teammates and clients. In general, it helps you make the most out of your connections: whether you find your target audience or find a service you need.
Knowledge and open-mindedness
Many professional platforms describe networking as a career-oriented skill: it helps find clients and employers. However, it is all about people and knowledge at the end of the day. You meet people with different points of view, cultures, and backgrounds, which impacts you. You also learn how to create boundaries with those with whom you disagree.
Sometimes books can’t give you what networking provides. It includes advice, insights, and many other aspects you tend to overlook when fresh out of college. It also significantly helps you become a better listener and storyteller outside of your professional grid. In other words, it is a life experience that can help you understand your values and goals.
Lifelong connections
One of the best side-effects of networking is meeting people with whom you can build personal relationships. Yes, it might not be related to your career, but you are here to discover different opportunities. Having like-minded people on your side is a blessing everyone wants to experience. You don’t have to expect everyone to be your genuine friend, but you know when you find one.
More opportunities
A network is a community of people, not an abstract list of phone numbers or social media profiles you have gathered over the years. You quickly learn that when you start discovering more opportunities otherwise hidden from the general public. You might be the first one to hear about a new opening position or project in dire need of someone like you. You might recommend the right candidate and save someone’s business or get valuable contacts just in time.
Many HR specialists are more likely to review a referral candidate. At the same time, you can trust the person who has proven they know what they’re doing when you’re looking for someone for your time-sensitive projects. The most evident benefit of networking is a part of a community that always shares and exchanges information.
Getting more visibility
Let’s say you are doing something completely unique and outside of the box. How can you promote your services? How to find a potential audience without pouring money into marketing campaigns? How to start your career in your unique niche? The correct answer is networking.
Networking can jumpstart your business from nothing. Always have your portfolio and contacts at your hand, and don’t be afraid to tell people about your business. It is hard to start and find your first clients without some luck and connections.
Valuable perspectives on different fields
Never limit yourself to networking only with people in your professional field. Get to know professionals across industries of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Even if you have nothing to do with creative industries, you might greatly benefit from knowing people in those sectors. Likewise, if you are a creative specialist, reach out to tech visionaries, lawyers, and all those people who can teach you new subjects.
Getting more confident
The more you meet people, the more confident you get. It is especially true for individuals having a hard time being the center of attention. If you want to succeed with your career and ideas, you should feel confident in your skills and talents. It’s not enough to be the best one in the room – others should know it too.
Build a strong team
If you don’t see yourself as an employee in a company, networking is a must. You can find people with whom you build and grow businesses and projects that can bring a change in your field. It is better than looking for strangers on professional platforms and not knowing what to expect. Instead, focus on people available for new projects and know you.
The bottom line
Networking is beneficial for professionals across businesses and industries. Even if you are a loner, you need others to feel more comfortable with your first job or project. It is better to start building relationships with different specialists early on rather than wait for the perfect timing later.
