What do you stand to gain from completing a college degree program? Ideally, you’ll build foundational skills and knowledge of your chosen field or discipline. You might even gain some valuable hands-on experience while sharpening your self-discipline and time-management skills. All of this can prepare you for a more successful transition into your ideal career path.
One opportunity you won’t want to overlook in a college program is building a strong professional network. Even if you choose to enroll in online courses, the right degree program will provide you with valuable opportunities to connect with others in your field. And this could pay off in your future career just as much as your formal coursework. Listed below are some of the many benefits of what networking in college can do for you.
Builds Valuable Relationships
First and foremost, networking in college can be a great way to establish meaningful professional connections that can last a lifetime. These connections with peers, professors, and even alumni can provide some much-needed support as you complete your degree program. In fact, many students find that their networks in college can even turn into a robust support system that they can rely on for encouragement, guidance, and insight not just during their academic journeys, but long into their professional careers as well.
Enhances Career Opportunities
Building connections in college and having a strong network can be important to enhancing your career opportunities after graduation. For example, as you build a professional network in school, you can gradually create your own network of contacts that you may be able to leverage for opportunities during school and after graduation. This may include opportunities for internships, mentorships, and job shadowing that you might not have access to without knowing the right people.
The more connections you make within your own industry (whether through peers, instructors, or other thought leaders in your field), the more you can expand your opportunities for job placement after you graduate. This is especially true when you consider that many employers and recruiters prefer to hire applicants referred by another employee or trusted expert in the field.
Builds Communication Skills
In addition to helping you build a support network and expanding your employment opportunities after graduation, networking while in college can also help you develop your networking and overall communication skills. Such core competencies as written and verbal communication, relationship-building, and other interpersonal skills can go a long way in your future career, regardless of the specific industry or discipline you’ve chosen to pursue.
Networking and building relationships with others in your field require you to exercise these critical soft skills. And the more you put them into practice, the more proficient you’ll become and the more confident you’ll be exercising these skills in your professional life. Working on these skills during your degree program is also a great way to build your confidence, forcing you to break out of your comfort zone and establish professional contacts that will pay off down the road. This can be an especially valuable skill to practice if you tend to be more introverted or have a hard time talking to others.
Leads to Valuable Industry Knowledge
Last but certainly not least, making an effort to network while in college can be an excellent way to gain additional insight into your chosen industry. By connecting with others going into your field or who are already working in your field, you can learn more about emerging industry trends, market predictions, best practices, and emerging technologies. In turn, this insider information could help you make better-informed decisions regarding your own professional path.
How to Network in College
When it comes down to how to network in college successfully, there are many reasons to make networking and professional development while in college a priority. Whether you’re in a “traditional” degree program on-campus or are enrolled in a distance education program, there are some proactive steps you can take to start building your professional network sooner rather than later.
Set Goals
First, consider what you’d like to get out of your professional network and the networking process as a whole. Are you aiming to secure a mentorship at some point? Interested in finding an internship in your field? Perhaps you’re simply looking for peers to connect with and who will understand the challenges of completing a degree program in your chosen discipline.
Regardless, taking the time to pinpoint your goals and objectives can help you move forward and tailor your efforts to build a professional network. For instance, if you’re mostly looking for peer support, you might gravitate more towards building relationships with classmates. If you’re more interested in mentorship and internship opportunities, then forging connections with professors and alumni (including our student ambassadors) may be ideal.
Prepare Ahead
If you’re not the type of person who enjoys talking about yourself, this is an adjustment you’ll need to prepare for as you strive to build a strong network in college. Take some time to craft an “elevator pitch” that allows you to communicate your professional/career interests in just one or two sentences. This will make introducing yourself to others much easier and will help you build connections.
Preparing to speak about yourself ahead of time is especially helpful if you plan on attending any networking events, such as career fairs or even industry trade shows. In addition to having an elevator pitch ready, be sure to bring any necessary materials (such as copies of your resume or even business cards) and dress appropriately for the occasion.
Enrolled in an online program? This doesn’t mean you have to miss out on networking opportunities. Even if you aren’t able to travel to a physical campus or other location to attend an industry event, you can rely on social media platforms like LinkedIn to build connections with professionals across the globe.
Be Proactive
Whether attending in-person events or simply trying to connect with other professionals online, proactivity is key. Don’t be afraid to speak first, introduce yourself, and even offer up a business card or other invitation to further the conversation. Also remember that you have a place in industry conversation, even as an undergraduate student. It may take time to build confidence. To that end, by proactively contributing to conversations, you can establish yourself as a thought leader in your field over time.
Follow Up
Finally, keep in mind that establishing and maintaining strong professional connections will take some effort on your part. Specifically, this means going out of your way to keep up with the connections you make. This could be as simple as sending a follow-up email after meeting another professional in your field, connecting with them on LinkedIn, or even inviting them to meet you for further conversation over coffee.
Ultimately, cultivating long-lasting professional relationships is all about keeping the conversation going in a way that’s appropriate based on the context. Don’t assume that somebody you met at a conference or in a class will be the one to reach out to you; instead, take the initiative yourself.
Find the Support You Need at Unity Environmental University
Putting in the effort to establish and expand your professional network while you’re in school can pay off many times over, especially when it comes time to start applying for jobs and exploring other exciting career opportunities. By proactively connecting with others in your field as part of your college experience, you’ll gain even more industry insight and knowledge while developing valuable soft skills and building a support system that you can rely on for years to come.
Looking for a school that’s committed to supporting students not just in their academics, but also in their long-term professional journeys? Unity Environmental University has you covered with dedicated support and extensive career resources — even for online students! Check out our distance education page to learn more or take the next step in completing your online application for admission today.
