5 Easy Ways to Network While at University

That old saying ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ is still very relevant today (although, obviously, it does also matter what you know). Throughout time, networking has, and most likely always will be, an extremely important way of finding and enhancing your career – and hey, it’s always nice to have a few extra friends as well.

Networking is a great way to gain valuable advice, find out about new opportunities that you otherwise may not have known about, and above all find out more about careers that interest you.  However, the way we network has changed a lot over the past decade, with social media and the internet becoming such a prominent part of our everyday lives.

University is a great time to start building a strong network of individuals that can help you with your future career path. Read on to find out some great ways to network that you may not have thought about before, which will also help boost student employability.

Although this might not feel like a very typical way to network, and honestly you’d rather just go home after lectures, taking the time to talk more to your lecturers might help you more than you’d think. Lecturers are pretty much pools of human knowledge, and it would be silly to not pick their brain while you have the chance.

Not only will they be able to give you extra tips on how to ace your module, but they may be able to give you some valuable advice on careers and ways to boost student employability. You may even be able to put them down as a reference when applying for jobs in the future, so lecturers are good people to have on your side.

Social media can be an excellent way to procrastinate. It can also be a great way to reach out and connect with people you don’t know very well. Sites like LinkedIn are good for expanding your network, so it’s important to keep your page updated and be active on it (by liking and commenting on other people’s posts etc.)

LinkedIn is a great addition to modern networking, as it gives you access to an abundance of online CVs, from people who have just started out, to CEOs of major companies. This is a great way to see the steps that professional individuals have taken to get where they are now. You also have the opportunity to direct message people individually – so take advantage of this! The worst thing that can coming from sending someone a polite message asking for advice is that they won’t reply, but if they do, you may end up finding a brilliant opportunity.

LinkedIn also has a Career Advice tool, where you can ask questions and professionals in that field will answer you directly, and give you advice. You should also use LinkedIn to follow companies that interest you, as this will keep you updated with firstly, what the company is doing and secondly, any jobs that become available.

Facebook and Twitter can also be useful ways to network. Your university and school may have an alumni group, which is an excellent way to make contacts. Alumni will often post about job positions available, and if you feel like you’d be good for the role, you can reach out to the poster to ask for more details. Contrastingly if an alumnus is in an industry you would like to work in, you can always reach out to them and ask questions – nine times out of 10, they would be happy to talk to you!