Imagine a student looking forward to going to a networking event after a day of classes. She went home, changed into more professional clothing and made her way to the event. Fifteen minutes after arriving, she finds herself sitting alone on a bench in a room surrounded by many professionals in her desired field: she’s too shy to talk to anyone! This student misses the opportunity to land her dream job while her peers seem to be getting just what they want.
Many college students know that networking plays a key role in jumpstarting their careers, but many don’t like to network because it feels uncomfortable or tacky. The tough truth is they will need to get over those fears if they want to succeed, as 85 percent of jobs are filled through networking efforts, according to Hubspot.
Here are three ways to make networking more successful, even if you still might feel uncomfortable.
Mentors make great connections to land your next job
One of the most authentic ways to network is through creating relationships with people who can act as a mentor. Having a mentor means having someone who will help guide and mold students into a more well-rounded professional. Networking through mentors is not as uncomfortable as networking with someone a student has never met before because they already know the student well.
Roy Olsen, the former director of international business development for Novell and current director of business development at Ascend Education, shares that professors can be a great way to network.
“It’s getting increasingly harder to talk to a professor face-to-face, but those students who do and develop a relationship with professors will find success because often the professor will have some relationship out there that can help the student,” says Olsen.
I have had personal success stories from having a professor as a mentor. After professor Robert Wakefield taught one of my classes, he helped me get an internship with his nephew’s company. Since it was my first internship, and I didn’t have a lot of experience in the field, his recommendation helped me land that position.
Be genuine
Being genuine is an important part of networking. Students should treat everyone with respect and shouldn’t expect to get anything in return. They need to show professionals that they really want to work for a company; and students need them to recognize they can be a loyal, honest and sincere employee.
“To be a really good networker you have to be a cordial person that people enjoy talking to, so that you develop relationships” says Olsen. “People have to feel like you’re a nice person and that you care about people; then, that reference will carry some weight.”
Networking needs to be professional and authentic
Networking only works if students make authentic connections with the professionals they are networking with. My husband got an internship with a prestigious accounting firm after making a connection with a managing partner of the firm. My husband met the partner at a networking event and after finding out they both enjoyed hunting, they chatted effortlessly for 30 minutes!
Joe Mechlinski, founder of Shift believes these connections need to be made authentically.
“People are fascinating. Get them talking and telling stories so you can learn about them and their challenges and great excitements,” says Mechlinski. “When you learn by asking questions, you come off as authentic and a story of your own is a great place to start."
People want coworkers they get along with. Finding ways to connect on a more personal level with professionals in a desired field will improve the outcomes of networking efforts. Making these connections also helps take the pressure off of trying to impress people.
Students can find ways to make networking easier and more comfortable through finding and creating relationships with mentors who can help them develop, making personal connections with the professionals they are networking with and by being genuine in all social encounters with networkers. The more comfortable students feel while networking will reflect in how successful their networking efforts are.
Don’t be stressed at the next networking event you attend. Use mentors and be genuine, professional and authentic to help you become the best networker in the room and land your next dream job.
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