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6 Simple Tips for Networking in Your Field
Gaining a degree is just one step toward landing your dream job — you also need the right connections. While you’re still at university, you should start networking with people in your field. Here are a few things you can do to ensure your success.
1. Begin Early
If you know what field you want to enter after you graduate, it’s not too early to start networking. In fact, it’s beneficial to begin as early as possible, as this will mean you have more time to develop connections. Plus, you’ll be able to ask for more general advice, which is likely to be more fruitful than going straight to seeking job opportunities.
2. Apply for Relevant Positions
Gaining experience in your field doesn’t just give you something to put on your resume — it will also help you gain useful contacts. In addition to applying for internships, this may include looking for research opportunities, teacher’s assistant positions, or volunteer work.
3. Take Advantage of Your Campus Career Centre
The career center on campus can help you in all sorts of ways, including with networking tips and work opportunities. Plus, the staff will have connections with alumni, who are extra likely to be willing to provide students like you with support.
4. Set Up Your LinkedIn Profile
The top online platform for networking is LinkedIn. Create a profile while you’re still a student to add information about your skills, list your accomplishments, and upload examples of your work. Once you’ve done all this, begin networking. You could search for groups related to your field, look for an alumni network for your school, or message people who have positions you are interested in or are at companies you would like to work for.
5. Ask for Advice as a Student
People in your field may be more willing to help you while you’re still a student, as they’ll remember what it was like to be just starting out. Take advantage of this by reaching out to as many professionals as possible while you’re still at university instead of waiting until you’ve graduated.
6. Use the Connections You Already Have
People you already know may have connections with professionals in your field, even if they themselves work in other industries. Since your friends and family want to see you succeed, they may be your best options for finding new opportunities. On the flip side, the people you meet professionally are more likely to have the connections you need. For this reason, it’s important to put effort into maintaining these relationships.
In addition to professionals already working in your field, it’s useful to network with students who intend to follow a similar career path as you. You’ll meet many of these students in your classes, but you can also network anywhere else there are students, including in your off-campus housing. The Ottawa off-campus housing at 417 Nelson offers plenty of opportunity to network. For instance, you can connect with people in common areas like the games room, fitness center, and multiple study lounges. Apply now to get on the list.