12 Eye-Opening Tips About Networking in College

Who you know is often crucial to your success. So networking in college is easily one of the most beneficial activities you can take up. Your efforts can pay off long after you′ve graduated. And making connections isn′t just about making friends. It′s about giving you the benefits of other people′s power and influence. It′s also about building a good reputation.

Use these 12 tips to develop the kinds of professional relationships that will serve you well for a long time to come.

1. Start early.
Developing good contacts is something that happens over time. Think about it: You can′t just walk up to somebody and force him or her to like you or want to help you. Growing your network requires more finesse. It′s a courting process built on authentic interactions. So begin your efforts as early as you can while still in school. The sooner you start, the more quality contacts you′ll have by the time you graduate.

2. Get to know your instructors.
Teachers at the college level can be great resources when it comes to building your network and finding hidden opportunities. They are often well-connected or at least know which direction to point you in. But the key to getting them to open up and offer extra help is usually to treat them as regular people who have real lives outside of school. Visit them during their office hours and show interest in the things they might be working on. Just be careful not to grovel. If you come across as genuine, instructors tend to be delighted by the chance to provide any assistance they can. That could be anything from writing a glowing recommendation letter to introducing you to a great mentor.

3. Join clubs and other organizations related to your interests.
This one should be obvious, but it′s amazing how many people never explore these kinds of opportunities. Clubs are tailor-made for developing new friendships and getting access to information that might not be easily obtained elsewhere. Plus, they don′t necessarily require much of your time. You can generally choose how often—and to what extent—you wish to participate in a club or association′s activities.

4. Volunteer for community service projects.
Contributing your time to good causes can reward you with more than just positive memories and proud feelings. It′s also a way to meet people who might one day be able to help you in your professional life. For instance, they could become good character references. And they might even keep you in mind anytime they come across leads for career opportunities that would interest you.

5. Hang out in places that are outside of your comfort zone.
The people who can help you might not be in the places you expect. Each of us has a unique combination of interests. So you do yourself a disservice if you project only what you like onto the people you′re hoping to meet. Do some experiments. For example, go to a wine-tasting event even if you know nothing about wine. Chat with the people there. Tell them you′re a novice. See what comes out of it. Do the same thing for other interests you have little experience with. Fascinating, fun, and helpful people often pop up in the most unexpected places.

6. Listen more than you talk.
The surest way to seem interesting to other people is to show genuine interest in them first. Letting them talk about themselves increases the odds that they′ll see you as fascinating. It makes them more receptive to getting to know you. And giving them the opportunity to tell their stories allows you to listen for clues that can lead you to useful insights, follow-up questions, or opportunities to connect on a deeper level.

7. Demonstrate humility.
Nobody likes a know-it-all or someone who brags all the time. Most of us respond better to people who show a little vulnerability. After all, why would someone offer any kind of help to you if you act like you don′t need it? Experienced or well-connected people are generally only willing to mentor or assist those who are confident and enthusiastic yet still open to learning new things and receiving constructive criticism.

8. Show respect.
Always value the people you meet, until you′re given a clear reason not to. Good connections stem from giving everyone the benefit of the doubt at first, regardless of what you think you know or may have heard about them. One of the most basic demonstrations of respect is remembering a person′s name. So, as you meet new people, practice saying their names back to them. Then, as you get more involved with certain individuals, show your respect by validating their feelings, opinions, and suggestions, even if you disagree. We all come at things with different backgrounds and ways of seeing the world, but it′s important to realize that we each also have blind spots in our own thinking. Giving respect helps you stay open to opportunities and leads to a wider understanding of the world.

9. Speak well of other people.
Gossip is a favorite pastime for countless people who don′t realize the harm that can come from it. Word travels. So you always have to be mindful of what you′re saying and who you′re talking to, especially when it comes to talking about other people. But the biggest danger of negative gossip isn′t necessarily that it could get back to the person you′re talking about. Instead, the biggest danger is often that you′ll be written off by the people you′re talking to. They might start imagining all of the negative things you could say about them later on. And that can kill a potentially good relationship before it ever has a chance of getting started. But when you find ways to speak nicely about others, it can have the opposite effect. It′s much better to have people imagining all of the good things you′ll say about them when they′re not around.

10. Don′t chase popularity.
A lot of people can see right through someone who is only motivated by the prospect of fame or superficial acclaim. Unless popularity is your only metric for success, you′re probably better off staying true to who you are. Most people are more attracted to those who are authentic than to those who are clearly faking something about themselves in order to gain approval or social standing. It′s the difference between gaining lasting and useful relationships or accumulating a bunch of shallow acquaintances who won′t be there for you when you need them most.

11. Practice empathy.
We all experience struggles. And we all carry around some degree of insecurity. It′s part of what makes us relatable to other people. But sometimes we forget these common elements in our personal interactions. We shouldn′t. Being able to understand and acknowledge the legitimacy of another person′s plight is a powerful skill. It leads to a deep sense of bonding that can be used to propel a relationship forward, even a professional one. Plus, it makes you more attuned to the real motivations behind people′s thoughts and actions, which makes communication easier.

12. Be generous.
Generous people tend to be successful people. But generosity doesn′t have to involve giving away money or material goods. In fact, you might get the best returns from sharing your time or expertise. You might not see yourself as a mentor, but you likely know how to do at least one thing better than someone else who could use the help. As you learn new things, practice giving back and sharing your knowledge. And don′t overlook the power of recognizing someone else′s achievements. That′s another way to be generous. A simple but heartfelt compliment can be a powerful thing. You never know when the favor might be returned in a positive way you didn′t expect.