The ultimate guide to networking

Networking is an important skill to master. As you’ll meet so many interesting people at university, it’s a good idea to start while studying. Those who you swap lecture notes with now could be the ones who’ll help you get a job in the future. Plus, unis offer great networking opportunities with societies, job fairs and events. Get your career off to a strong start by learning how to network – at uni and beyond.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

• What is networking?
• The benefits of networking
• Where to go for networking
• How to network effectively
• Bright Network’s tips for networking
• Keeping up with your network connections

Networking is about making connections with people that will help you get ahead in your career. You can use professional networking to secure a job or gain career guidance. Advice from someone who’s ‘been there and done that’ is invaluable!

Networking happens anywhere and everywhere – from chatting to someone at a party to attending a formal career event. It also involves everyone you meet, such as employers at a graduate fair, your colleagues at a part-time job or your coursemates. It doesn’t have to happen face-to-face; it’s possible to build relationships on social media or sites like LinkedIn. Networking doesn’t need to be with someone who’s an expert on a certain topic either – your friends are valuable contacts too. You’re probably already networking without realising it.

Networking gives you the chance to build up your connections beyond family. So if you don’t know anyone in the field you’re interested in, networking is how you’ll meet the people who will help you achieve your professional goals.

Networking has amazing benefits for your career and your confidence. Here are some key benefits of networking:

The more people who know what kind of role you’re looking for, the more people who’ll tell you if they hear of a suitable job. The right connections will put you in touch with who’s hiring – or even be the one doing the hiring!

What you know matters, but who you know is also important when it comes to building a successful career. Personal recommendations and referrals (usually when somebody receives an incentive, like a bonus, for finding a successful candidate) go a long way when job hunting.

Think of the phrase “two heads are better than one”. Talking to someone new who’s working or interested in your industry is a great way of sparking ideas and conversations.

Networking isn’t about meeting people for two minutes and never speaking to them again. You want to make lasting connections with those in and around your industry. Who knows what the future will bring – maybe you’ll work together one day.

Speaking to those in your industry is great if you want advice. Everyone you talk to has a different story, so they’ll all offer you unique tips and insights.

While networking sometimes happens organically (ie. your flatmate’s new boyfriend works for your dream company), the best networkers create opportunities to meet the right people. You can’t rely on luck to build connections; you need to put yourself out there to maximise your opportunities.

One of the main ways to network at uni is to attend career events and fairs. Even if the companies there aren’t relevant to your career path, use these events to practice your networking skills.

Some company reps will be swamped by eager students, while their colleagues are talking to one person.

Don’t make the mistake of following the crowd. It’s best to pick the smaller group as you’ll get more face-time.

Ask for guest lists and panellists in advance. Look them up online and pin down who you want to meet.

When you introduce yourself, do so with a firm handshake and good eye contact.

Unsure what “good eye contact” means? One top tip is to maintain enough eye contact to learn their eye colour while you say hello. Once you know their eye colour, relax and be your natural self.

Ask them a question, whether they're a potential employer or fellow student. Asking questions shows that you’re interested and lets you find out what you want to know.

It’s just as important to know how to end a conversation as it is to start one. At a networking event, you’re not expected to make a new best friend. So once they’ve answered your core questions, move on.

Even if you want something from the person you’ve met, like an investment or a job, keep your conversation short. A networking event isn’t the place to discuss long-term commitments. Instead, ask them to meet another time for a coffee.

Turn your new connections into contacts by following up.

At the end of the event, go back to the person you talked to to say thank you. Mentioning something personal you discussed will help them remember you.

Business cards are a nice – but optional – touch. Although they’re rarer than they used to be, it still looks more professional to share your email or LinkedIn profile address on a printed card than a scrap of paper.

Even if you’re giving out your contact details, follow up with an email or social media request. Employers will meet hundreds of students at an event, so you need to be the one who makes the effort to stay in touch.

Plenty of today’s networking happens virtually, without ever meeting the person you’re talking to.

The most popular platform for online networking is LinkedIn. You don’t need to wait for your first job to set up an account. The earlier you join LinkedIn, the sooner you’ll be able to start online networking.

Once you’re set up, add everyone you meet and already know. Your school friends, college classmates and uni peers are all people who will be useful to your career in ways you can’t predict right now.

Plus, LinkedIn lets you ‘meet’ new people. Join groups, comment on posts, follow influencers and send connection requests to professionals you’d like to know. Top tip: if you want to add someone you haven’t met, always add a message to explain why. A personalised note will increase your chances of them accepting your invitation. Once you’re connected, start a conversation. Don’t be offended if they don’t reply (particularly if they’re very influential) but, as long as you’re polite, there’s no harm in networking. Consider it a bonus when somebody gets back to you.

Networking effectively is about managing your expectations and being realistic with your goals. You can’t know everything about everyone – and you don’t need to. By prioritising quality over quantity, you can network without feeling overwhelmed.

Think about the following questions:

• What would you like to do as a career (ie. industry or role)?
• What goal do you want to achieve by networking (ie. do you want advice about an industry you’re not sure of, or would you like help getting a job)?
• What kind of person could help you in the way you want?
• Do you already know someone who could help here or anyone who will put you in touch with someone who can?
• If you’re not already connected to someone, where are you most likely to meet this kind of person?

If you’ve got a goal in mind, focus your networking efforts here. For example, attend industry-specific events or talks. Or join online communities for this area. This way you’ll be more targeted with your networking. But remember: everyone you meet has the potential to help you one day, so don’t dismiss connections too quickly.

Everyone networks in their own way but these four top tips are good advice for all in any industry:

Joining a group gives you a pool of people to network with. The obvious groups are the trade organisations such as the Institute of Engineering and Technology. At the early stages of your career though, smaller and more flexible groups are probably the better option. It's never too late to join university societies.

For the introverts among us, networking is often intimidating. Remember, you don’t have to throw yourself in at the deep end. If you don’t feel like a natural networker, look for a structured event at your uni such as a talk or a workshop. Go along intending to learn something and let the networking take a back seat. As you get more confident, you’ll find it easier to interact.

Wherever you meet someone, there are a few simple things you should do to make that first impression count:

• Offer a handshake with a firm grip and direct eye contact
• Introduce yourself with confidence (the ‘fake it ’til you make it’ technique works here)
• Get the conversation going – after the introductions, tell the person why you decided to talk to them
• Think before you speak – the person you’re talking to won’t notice a short pause even if it feels awkward to you

Consider what you give, not what you get. Everyone likes a person who helps them out. Keep an eye out for things you’ll do, such as introducing someone to a friend or tipping them off about a job opportunity. It’ll build stronger connections than small talk.

Making new connections is one thing but here comes the harder bit: keeping them.

Some people you meet won’t be able to further your career today, but they’ll help in the future. You need to keep in touch so that they’ll still be there for you when you need them.

After a successful networking event, you’ll come away with a handful of names and email addresses. Even if you're busy with exams or assignments, set yourself time to add people to your contacts, social media or LinkedIn. Then choose who to follow up with and how you’ll do it.

As an effective networker, you’ll quickly build up more contacts than you can handle. It’s important to be selective. List 10-20 people you think are worth staying in touch with. Once you’ve narrowed it down, give these people more attention. Check in with them every few months, even if it’s just a friendly email asking how they are.

If you do this (and follow all our other networking advice), you’ve done a good job. But as you can’t network with yourself, there’s one element you can’t control – how other people behave. Part of being a good networker is developing a thick skin. You’re not going to click with everyone you meet. Don’t obsess over an unanswered email. Try contacting the person again; you’ve possibly caught them at a bad time. If they don’t get back to you, move on to the next person on your list. Networking is a business skill so don’t take losing touch personally. It usually just means they’re too busy to respond. If it happens a lot, try rethinking who you network with. Senior folks are more likely to have overwhelming schedules, while those earlier on in their careers will be happier to give you their time.

However you network, remember to always treat the people you meet with kindness. It’s a good rule for life and it’ll come in very handy when you meet the people who’ll influence your future career.