Networking In College

Networking Resources: Timelines, Tools & Tips

College is home to countless opportunities, both personal and professional. One of the most exciting aspects is meeting a wide variety of individuals, all with their own strengths, goals, dreams and circles of influence. Learning to reach out to everyone with the belief that each person has something of value to offer is the basic underpinning of networking – and it should begin the day a student sets foot on campus. According to an annual survey by Right Management, well over 40 percent of jobs are landed through good networking.

This guide focuses on not just the importance of networking, but offers actionable ways to build a wide circle of contacts, places to begin the networking journey and how to make good use of those contacts when the time comes.

Networking by The Year

Networking begins the moment a student walks onto the campus. From greeting that new roommate to saying hello to the academic advisor, each new interaction offers a wealth of possibility. Here's what you can do to cultivate that long list of contacts, starting with the first day.

Freshman Year

This is when building contacts begins, and there it's never too early to start. Some of the most influential people met this year will be integral to the college experience for the next four years, as they will watch you grow and change over that time. Here's how to start cultivating those connections.

Sophmore Year

The awkward freshman year is over and now college students have settled into a routine. They are also more prepared to consider what they might want to do in the future, which means networking becomes much more targeted. Here are networking plans to make for the second year.

Junior Year

Now that the major is chosen, it's time to add more network contacts that pertain to your future goals. Professors, advisors, mentors and internships are all going to take center stage this year. Here's how to move forward.

Senior Year

Now is the time to put the networking from the past three years to good use. This year students will start seriously looking for a job within their chosen profession, and all of those contacts can come into play to help make that happen. Here's how to move forward.

Campus and Community College Networking Resources

The College Networking Toolbox

When it comes to doing anything properly, starting out with a good toolbox is a necessity. The networking toolbox is constantly being honed and perfected, starting in college – or even before – and continuing throughout a lifetime. Here's what students need to tuck into their toolbox in order to succeed with a wide circle of useful contacts.

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Informational Interview

Unlike a typical interview, where a potential employee is applying for a particular job, the informational interview flips the script: the potential employee interviews someone from the business. This might seem awkward at first, but it is actually a very well-known networking tool that allows students to find out more about potential jobs while meeting those who might be able to help them land those jobs. Informational interviews can start at any point during the college years, but it is usually best to wait until you are certain of a potential career path or major, so as to make the best connections and not waste time – yours or theirs. You want to interview those who are working at the level at which you want to work; for instance, if you want to work in management, you should speak to a manager at a business in your chosen field. You can often find great leads through family and friends, but you might also turn to the college career counselor, student placement services or human resources at a particular company to get the interview set up. In the case of family and friends, introductions could be made in person. For others, a formal letter requesting an interview is a great way to make a good first impression. Expect to spend 20 to 30 minutes asking all kinds of questions. Here are a few to get started: What is your typical day like? What are some of the most difficult or frustrating parts of this career? Beyond the expected education, what kind of training does the job require? What particular courses should I focus on to prepare me for a job like this? How is the profession changing? Preparing for the interview should be done with as much care as if you were interviewing for the job. Here's how to prepare for this very important meeting. Dress well Professional attire is a must. Dress as though you were actually going to work at the place where you will be interviewing. Always be professional The basic rules apply: shake hands, smile, don't chew gum, don't make offensive comments, listen to what the other person has to say, and the like. Ask intelligent questions Create a list before your interview of questions that will give you a great deal of information and open the lines of discussion. Avoid ‘yes or no' questions. Be friendly In addition to being professional, strive to be warm and open with the interviewee. You want to build a rapport if possible. Say thank you Not just when you leave, but later, when you send a nice thank-you letter to the person you interviewed. This little gesture goes a long way. To learn more about informational interviews, visit these following resources: Informational Interviewing (BLS) This article from the Bureau of Labor Statistics includes everything students need to know, start to finish, about conducting the best informational interviews. Informational Interviewing (UC Berkeley) This helpful site offers information on how to prepare, conduct the interview, and wrap it all up. It even offers an example. Informational Interviews (CareerOneStop) Looking for a list of questions to get the ball rolling? This is where you find the basics that can help launch your own questions.

Sphere of Influence

Imagine throwing a rock into a pond. The ripples begin at the middle, where the rock hit, and spread out to eventually touch all parts of the shore. The water and shore were influenced by the rock that changed the shape of the pond. In networking, a sphere of influence is much the same as that rock in a pond. The idea is to use that ripple effect to reach more contacts, all the while reminding them that you have influence. What is influence? It is a leadership skill that helps you effect change in the lives of others, including their actions, beliefs and choices. There are many people who have caught you in the ripples of their influence. This includes parents, siblings, extended family, friends, teachers, colleagues, and many more. On the college level, the sphere of influence has included professors, administrators, advisors, alumni, and others who have crossed paths during the years. Your sphere of influence reaches out and touches others, too. You might influence those who have influenced you; you might also send your ‘ripples' out to new contacts, showing them that you are valuable to them. Expanding that sphere of influence is a valuable tool that can help you not only make more contacts, but expand your esteem within your networking circles. Curious as to how to expand your sphere of influence? These resources can help. American Society of Administrative Professionals This organization offers many useful tips for anyone looking to network or land a leadership position, including strong insights on building a sphere of influence. I Take the Lead This site is dedicated to helping business owners grow their presence. Some of their advice focuses on networking, including obtaining a strong sphere of influence. YouTern This helpful site focuses on internships, as well as other networking opportunities; blog posts delve into certain aspects of networking, including sphere of influence.

Elevator Speech

The elevator pitch is a very quick, concise and memorable speech. Imagine you run into the CEO of a company in an elevator, and you have only the short amount of time between floors to introduce yourself – that's an elevator speech. Creating this speech can be tough, as you have to incorporate a great deal of information within a very short time frame. Besides that, the speech must be memorable enough that you stand out among all the other people who have tried the exact same thing. There are three key elements to the elevator speech. The first is the time limit. The second is to pinpoint the skills that will best suit the organization and incorporate mention of those into the speech. The third is to offer what you can do for them, or explain what you would like to do in the company. Here's an example: “Hello! My name is _________. I'm currently a student at _________, as well as the head supervisor of the student financial aid division, where I oversee student loan applications. It's my first step into what I anticipate will be a very successful financial career. I'm looking for suggestions on how to improve my opportunities in the financial sector, so that I can eventually move into rewarding work with non-profits.” And here's another: “I am currently studying communications at ___________. I have a knack for making complex issues quite easy to understand, whether it's through speaking or the written word. I love the challenge of working in teams and thrive on tight deadlines. I'm inspired by working with those of varied cultures and backgrounds, which is why I would love to work with an international organization. I'm looking for a position that will allow me to use my strong communication skills to reach out to those in other cultures.” Want to learn more? These places can help you plan your speech. Idealist Careers This reputable career site offers a wealth of information a variety of networking issues, including building the perfect elevator speech. The 30 Second Elevator Speech This report from UC Davis focuses on the elevator speech, including examples and ideas to help make yours stand out.

Personal

Consider how you appear to the world, what people think the moment they meet you, and the first thing that crosses someone's mind when they think of you. The way you present yourself to the world is your personal brand – and it can be cultivated, monitored, manipulated and even destroyed. By the time you reach college, your personal brand is already out there. Simply type your name and hometown into a search engine and if you have ever been a member of a social media site, a list of your achievements, forum posts, blogs, and other information is likely to come up on the first page. The idea is to control your personal brand so that it reflects only what you want it to say. You Control Your Brand Start by being clear about who you are and what you want. Make sure all your social media platforms reflect who you are. For instance, a very professional LinkedIn profile can be quickly undermined by a not-so-clean Twitter feed. If you truly want to wrest control of your brand from the internet, play the game by creating your own website. Use it to create a vivid picture of who you really are. Keep in mind that who you associate with can affect your brand. You want to align yourself with movers and shakers, reputable companies, honored colleagues, and excellent educational opportunities. Each can elevate your brand beyond what you could achieve on your own. But beware: A brand can be destroyed with the click of a mouse. Always be careful of what you post online. In person, stay friendly and professional at all times. Never do something that you might regret, as it could eventually find its way around, whether through word of mouth or online. Here are more resources to help you understand and cultivate your personal brand. Entrepreneur This magazine is dedicated to all the things that up-and-coming professionals need to know, including how to make your personal brand stand out among all the others out there. Harvard Business Review What if your personal brand changes? This informative article focuses on handling transformation in the right way.

Face Time

In a world where technology is making everything move faster and texting is now the norm rather than the exception, never underestimate the value of a truly personal connection. This can be achieved through face time (not to be confused with the Face Time app on your iPhone), or simply being in the same room with your contacts. Say hello, shake hands, look them in the eye, and catch up – these courtesies still carry an enormous amount of weight, especially in a time when life can seem to move too fast. Can't be in a room with that networking circle? Old-fashioned phone calls work, too. Rather than send that text or email, simply pick up the phone to invite a contact to lunch, say “thank you” for a good deed or compliment them on their latest achievement. It doesn't have to be lengthy; a few minutes is plenty to check in, catch up and remind them that you are paying attention. Here are some resources that can help with face time and other in-person networking moments. 20 Tips for Success When Networking in Person Syracuse University offers this in-depth guide to face time, filled with suggestions on how to make the most of networking in person.

Expert Advice on College Networking: Becca Garvin

What are some of the most important points college students should remember about networking?

Networking in college requires an emphasis on bridging generational gaps by communicating the value someone of their age can offer (which is a great deal most than many business owners understand) in a way that is seen as professional, therefore understood and received by older generations.

Due to today's society being so unique, largely in how social media completely dominates marketing and therefore has a huge impact on business success, college students in this day and age have a tremendous skillset to offer future employers: the understanding and abilities that come naturally to them because they have grown up with the trends that are dictating much of what happens in numerous facets of society including business.

That being said, presentation and informative, proactive communication is huge. One stigma attached to college student these days is lack of effort; an entitlement factor is assumed. If students can proactively overcome this and pair it with informative communication tailored to the level of those they are trying to reach, they can open doors much faster than one might expect.

 Is LinkedIn really as important as it seems?

LinkedIn is the ultimate networking tool without a shadow of a doubt. This is going off on a rabbit trail so feel free to redirect me if I did not answer that correctly, but having a LinkedIn profile that is professional and informative (tailored to the jobs and industries you want to work in) is so huge in today's job market. That is the first thing I will look at when searching for people or checking them out after they apply for a role.

Today's students tend to prefer texting over other forms of communication — so just how important is the old-fashioned phone call?

Texting is certainly the preferred method of communication for students today and is becoming more and more popular for people throughout the business world. Let's be honest, it is quicker than e-mailing and certainly faster than a phone call and much more convenient than both. That being said, the fact remains that there ARE still many people, especially older generations, who find this method of communication to be less professional.

More importantly, phone calls are not only 100 percent necessary, the ability to carry on a conversation on the phone is just as important if not more so than in-person. Depending on the situation, your initial conversation with a hiring manager is likely going to be on the phone. Coming from someone who interviews people all day, I usually do not discredit a candidate based on a pause prior to answering a question I ask, but I certainly do based on “word vomit.” Remember that facial expressions are not visible over the phone, so it is very important that your words make up for lack of appearance because people will create an image of you in their minds based on what they hear.

By far the most important advice I would give someone coming out of school in regards to texting (or communication in general, especially written) is something that I was clueless about when I first graduated college. IF someone opens the “texting” door, you need to watch your verbiage, language and punctuation. This is critical. Texting your friends and family or even someone you know extremely well is different – much different – than communicating with someone professionally.

Social Media: Using it For Networking

The Pew Research Center reports that 65 percent of Americans use social media in some form today, up from a measly 7 percent back in 2005. A whopping 90 percent of young adults are using social media every day. That translates into an enormous amount of networking potential for any college student and aspiring professional.

Much more than a simple way to communicate with friends, social media has become a powerful tool for scoring an interview, landing the perfect job, and building a huge array of contacts. Here are some of the most popular and important social media platforms for networking.

• LinkedIn
  Out of the vast array of social media platforms, LinkedIn is by far the most valuable for professionals. It allows users to upload their resume, showcase their latest work, offer a run-down of their best talents, and even keeps a running list of those who recommend users for certain skills and expertise. But according to a 2013 Millennial Branding survey, almost half of all college students have never used LinkedIn at all – they are missing a very valuable networking tool.
• Twitter
  Information travels very quickly when it's 140 characters or less. Those tiny snippets of conversation are the power of twitter, a networking tool that can help students reach out to prominent and influential people in their field, follow those who offer intense and interesting discussion on pertinent topics, and allow for quick connections with concise, succinct language. Students can showcase their personality, follow companies of interest and look for job openings.
• Facebook
  Who hasn't heard about that unfortunate soul who didn't get the interview, or even lost their job, due to something written on their Facebook page? While Facebook can make it very easy to feel comfortable with social media, that comfort can lead to oversharing, which can then lead to problems with employers. Students can get around this by creating a private account just for family and friends, as well as a public account just for potential employers and other networking contacts.
• Instagram
  Made up primarily of images, Instagram can also be leveraged as a social media networking tool. By using photographs as a backdrop for your messages to others, it's possible to turn this social media site into a portfolio of where you've been, who you have connected with and what projects you are working on. For instance, there might be a series of posts from a conference, followed by an image of you at a volunteer event. Potential employers might enjoy scrolling through to get a real-world view of what you have done.