3 Tips for College Networking…

At a young age, I was taught that the only way to be successful is to go to college and get a degree. So after graduating high school, it was not a surprise that I would attend college. Throughout my college career, I have met many people here for many different reasons. Some are here because they want to party, some because their parents are forcing them to be here, others because they want to create a better opportunity for themselves, and others are here for all three reasons. However, no matter the reason, they are still here. I’ve realized that all the people I’ve met throughout my career have been for a reason and one of the skills that I had to develop that they won’t teach you in class is how to network.

Networking is one of the most valuable skills I’ve learned since I’ve been in college. No matter the reason why you are here, our main goal is to get our degree. While here, many of us go to class, join clubs, and go to events to be social or for academic purposes. During this time we come across many different types of people. Networking is a perfect way to connect with others and create opportunities for yourself before and after graduating.

No matter why you are here, our main goal is to get a degree. Networking is one of the most valuable skills I’ve learned since I’ve been in college. While here, many of us go to class, join clubs, and go to events to be social or for academic purposes. During this time we come across many different types of people. Networking is a perfect way to connect with others and create opportunities for yourself before and after graduating.

1. Get Involved in Organizations and Clubs

Joining student organizations and clubs not only help build your network but they also help boost your resume. Organizations have many social, fundraising, and community service events. At these events, you will be spending time with other students, alumni, or faculty and presented with an opportunity to create a relationship with them to help build your network. While simultaneously building your resume. One key thing that helped me a lot was to join both professional and social organizations. I am currently a marketing major and one professional organization I joined is the American Marketing Association (AMA). Joining AMA I am able to meet different people who are interested in the same field that I am. One social organization I joined was The Black Student Union where I am able to be around people who may not be in the same field as me but are advocates for change for the black community at my school which is something that I stand for.

2. Attend Career and Internship Fairs

Most colleges host career fairs at their schools where they bring different types of companies to the school to recruit for future jobs, beginning as internships. This is the perfect opportunity to show face, connect, and meet with employers. I went to every job fair that my college held since freshman year. Each year I went to the same company’s booth to talk and meet with the recruiters until I was able to apply for their summer internship. I was offered the job and just recently completed the internship program. Going to career fairs are great to learn about different companies and create opportunities for yourself.

Most colleges host career fairs at their schools where they bring different types of companies to the school to recruit for future jobs, beginning as internships. This is the perfect opportunity to show face, connect, and meet with employers. I went to every job fair that my college held since freshman year. Each year I went to the same company’s booth to talk and meet with the recruiters until I was able to apply for their summer internship. I was offered the job and just recently completed the internship program. Going to career fairs are great to learn about different companies and create opportunities for yourself.

3. Build A Strong Team

One thing that I had to realize is that not everyone you meet will be able to help you reach the goals that you want. That’s when you go into the network that you have built over your college career and build deeper relationships. The people that you choose from your network to build stronger connections with should have similar goals as you, a skill that you lack, a good work ethic, and be inspiring. Once you figure out the people who have these things to help you build a strong networking team, the only thing left to do is grind until you reach your goals. These three tips that I have developed over my college career have helped me become successful when building my network.

There is no one specific guide for building a personal network, it solely depends on you & how hard you try!

Author Info:
Ryan Brown
UTSA Marketing
Originally published on October 30, 2019. Reprinted with permission.