How to Find Networking Opportunities in College

Are you in college trying to find a job?

Are you wondering how you can get yourself noticed by employers?

The people you meet could be great assets in your future. In order to get a job, it is not always “what can you do?” but “who do you know?”

Here are 8 tips on finding networking opportunities in college.

Being in a club in college is a great way to spend your free time and meet new people.

But joining a club related to your major?

Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

Joining a club related to your major is a great way to meet others who will not only be taking the same classes as you, but who will also be interested in working in the same industry as you.

This is a great way to do what you love while being with friends who share the same interests as you!

Get involved!

Ask your club leader if your club could have hands on experience or a tour of a company related to your major!

This would be a great resume builder. This shows employers that you are involved and are being proactive in the industry while you are in school.

Got a guest speaker?

Also, it doesn’t hurt to go up to people who are already working in the industry and give them your business card. People always know people.

You never know! If a guest speaker sees upfront that you have potential, they could pass your name to someone who could offer you an internship.

Contact an alumnus who was once in the club.

Chances are there are lots of alumni who were in the same club as you. Ask your club leader if they know any alumni you can get in contact with who has a job in your interested industry.

Now, I’m not saying you should be a teacher’s pet…BUT you should try to make a positive relationship with your professor.

Show that you’re a hard worker!

Your professors are one of your best resources while being in college. They see how you work hard in class and know who you are as a person.

Ask your professor if they know anyone in your interested industry.

Not only can they make recommendation letters to your employers, but they can also refer you to someone they know personally in the industry that can help you get a job opportunity.

You have the advantage!

That’s right. You have the advantage. The ball is in your court. Meeting alumni within your industry is a very smart way to network. Why?

They want to help you.

These people have been in your shoes. They know exactly what you are going through. Right up front, you already have a special bond. You have shared the same college experience as them.

They were sent to recruit.

Most companies send alumni to recruit for their company. If a university is known for having a very good program for majors related to the industry, they will most likely want to hire more students to work for their company.

With this in mind, it would be silly not to go!

4. Take advantage of internships.

You got the internship. Congratulations! You were finally given hands on experience into your interested industry.

This is your big shot!

Being given an internship is like a tryout. The company wants to see if you have what it takes to potentially be a good employee. With that being said, you will be exposed to lots of people.

Be social.

Get to know your fellow interns and your mentors. When it comes to standing out, you want known and liked by the people who are working with you. It shows you are easy to work with and that you are a team player! 

Make a great impression to your internship leaders.

You never know if one of your mentors recommends you to be a candidate for hiring.

Your internship leaders are the people who evaluate your performance. It’s important to take this opportunity to show that you deserve to be there.

This can lead to a job offer!

5. Go to all the Job Fairs.

Go! Go! Go!

Your college job fair is the number one place to meet employers. They are there to recruit talented students like you! So, don’t be afraid if you do not have that much experience, they know you are in college.

Visit as many tables as possible.

It is important that you go meet as many employers as possible. Even if you feel you are not interested in that industry, you never know what job opportunities each company has to offer.

Put on your best suit. Bring your resume. And go to that job fair!

Also, don’t forget to be confident. :)

6. Make yourself present online

How you present yourself online is just as important as how you present yourself in person. You want to make sure you have a presentable social media.

Create a LinkedIn account

LinkedIn is the top way for employers to get to know you. Just glancing your profile, they can get a sense of who you are as a person. So, make sure you stay up to date with your profile, you never know who is going to look at it.

Send a message! Employers are recruiting online.

Don’t be afraid to connect with someone on LinkedIn in your desired industry. People like to feel important. Ask if they know any job opportunities in their company. Be proactive 

7. Research local networking events

Why not start somewhere local?

Check out what your local community has to offer.

There are lots of small local businesses that are looking for talent. Check online to see if there are any business networking events you could attend around your area.

Attend a business development brunch or a local job fair. People are always looking to hire! You never know who you’re going to meet :)

Now that you know what to do…Go out there and network! You will do great!

Let us know in the comments if you have any tips for finding networking opportunities.

If you need anymore information, go to https://www.ourfirstjobsearch.com/ for more tips on how to get a job.