How to Build a Network on Campus as an International Student

Sadly enough, you would hardly come across someone who would tell you about the importance of networking on campus. It is not because that is a lie, but because often the concept is a loose end and no one knows where to fit it in the curriculum. You cannot possibly have a class on networking which loosely translates to ‘making friends’ when you are doing your graduate degree right? Everyone just assumes that this is something we do naturally.

In the professional sense, networking is what you do when you are making connections with people who are mostly from your field itself. These connections could range from being in touch with a professor who taught you, to experts, thought leaders and even your own peers.
The purpose of networking is to form relationships with a long term goal. What can this person mean to me or do for me after a decade? The earlier you start building up your network, the easier it is for you to sit back and be prepared for a crisis or a favor. Your network is the resources you tap into in times of need. The best time hence, to start practicing networking is when you are in college, so that you have enough people to fall back on as an adult when the failures are more serious. We understand that networking on campus is hard to begin with, especially if you are an international student, an introvert or under-confident. But looking at the bigger picture, networking is something you definitely need to practise. Here are some tips to do this well.

1. Make it a part of your schedule
You should start building your network during your everyday activities as a student, like engaging in discourses with your immediate neighbors – professors and classmates. As a student, it will be rare that you will get connections of CEOs of big companies or meet celebrities often. So utilise what is freely available to you first. Your professors and classmates can be some of your most valued assets when it comes to getting a job in the future. Your professors can offer key facts about the industry you plan to enter and who knows, maybe share some contact details of students who they taught in the past. Sometimes those former students send emails to professors for job openings. When it comes to your classmates, these are young and energetic men and women who are probably waiting to surprise the world tomorrow with their ideas. Who knows where they might land after graduation?

2. Get involved on campus
There are only positives to being involved in campus activities. Even if it is about losing a tournament or a debate, you will realise that there is too much to learn even from failures. There are a ton of ways to get involved on campus to build your network, including social sororities and fraternities, jobs, student media, honor societies, professional clubs, club spots and what not. Not only will you be able to connect with a number of other students, you’ll also be able to connect with speakers, advisers, and mentors.

3. Use the resources at college
There are huge chances that your campus career centre has a lot of resources. You can easily find open internships or jobs posted by the alumni, get tips on how to improve your online presence, try out mock job interviews and much more. Meet with company representatives, turn in your resume for getting notified for job openings, start conversations and stay updated about the industry of your choice.

4. Develop your online presence
In the age of digitisation, your social media presence can alter your life remarkably. Start with creating your LinkedIn profile. You might also want to make a website depending on what you want to do or build an online portfolio. Your school might have an alumni group on Facebook. You will notice that alumni will often post job openings within their company. If you find something worth your interest, you can reach out. Start a conversation. Ask thoughtful questions about the job and the firm.

5. Initiate conversations
Nothing is more attractive than confidence. Be yourself. Don’t treat networking like a game but something you genuinely have interest in. If you’re having trouble keeping a conversation flowing, start asking questions rather than answering. : “How did you become the CEO of your company?” “Any advice for a young person who’s looking to get into your industry?” “What does your day-to-day look like?” “What are some important things I should look for when applying to jobs?” These are just some examples of what you could ask.

6. Maintain your network
Networking is more than just compiling business cards, passing out resumes, or gaining connections on LinkedIn. It’s pure hard work to follow up and stay in touch with people who you do not even know when you will have to rely on. As much as the ‘not knowing’ is demotivating, it is important that we remember that there are definitely chances that you will need these contacts in the future. For example,if you meet someone at a job fair, send them an email later. Even if they don’t have something greatly fascinating for you yet, let them know you appreciate the time they took to talk to you.

We hope these tips made networking sound a little easier to you and also taught you how important it is to build your network on campus as an international student.