Networking 101: A Guide for New Graduates
Publié le 24 July 2024
Make your path from the classroom to the boardroom as straightforward as soon as possible with networking 101 – a guide for new graduates.
Building a professional network is crucial for any fresh graduate, as it can significantly impact your overall career success.
Studies show that 85% of jobs are filled through networking, highlighting the importance of personal connections in the hiring process.
And that’s not all.
Establishing professional connections allows fresh graduates to seek mentorship from experienced professionals. Mentors provide invaluable advice, share industry insights, and help navigate the early stages of a career. In fact, research shows that 94% of professionals with a mentor believe it contributes to their success.
But how does one achieve this whilst starting from scratch? That’s exactly what we’re going to tackle in networking 101 – a guide for new graduates.
The Importance of Building a Network as a Fresh Graduate
First and foremost, networking exposes you to experiences and engagement. Engaging with professionals from different industries helps you stay updated on industry trends and fosters continuous learning.
According to Harvard Business Review, 70% of professionals say that networking has played a crucial role in their career success by facilitating knowledge-sharing and providing fresh insights
Likewise, a strong professional network can enhance your professional reputation. Positive recommendations and endorsements from trusted connections are more valuable than any certificate and can even give you an edge over objectively more skilled candidates.
Networking also helps in developing essential soft skills such as communication, confidence, and interpersonal skills. Meeting new people in your industry can boost self-confidence and improve the ability to articulate ideas effectively, whilst getting valuable advice at the same time.
5 Simple Steps To Start Networking As a Graduate
Networking can seem daunting for new graduates, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are seven steps to help you start building a strong professional network:
1. Define Your Goals
Start by determining what you hope to achieve with your networking efforts. This can include finding job opportunities, seeking mentorship, or learning about a specific industry. Clear objectives will help you focus your efforts and target the right connections.
For instance, if your goal is to find a specific job, target professionals in your desired industry and role. If you seek mentorship, look for experienced individuals who can provide guidance. Prioritize your goals using the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to ensure they are realistic and actionable.
Having well-defined goals helps you strategically build a network that aligns with your career aspirations and maximizes your chances of success.
2. Leverage Your Existing Connections
Start your networking efforts by leveraging your existing connections, including family, friends, colleagues, and university alumni. These contacts already know and trust you, making them valuable resources.
Reconnect with former classmates and colleagues to explore potential collaborations and job opportunities. Reach out proactively, offering your help, advice, or feedback to show you value the relationship.
Politely ask for referrals, introductions, or recommendations when needed. If you’re in the art industry, you can even share your portfolio with all the essential data redacted to give your contacts an idea of what you have to offer without jeopardizing your privacy
Likewise, you can go to networking events and share your business cards with your contacts and the people they introduce to you. And despite what most people will tell you, business cards are far from dead. They can be digital or equipped with a QR code for ease of exchange and use, leading to some great first impressions, and that’s without you even having to say a word.
Engaging with people you already know can provide insights into your industry and introduce you to new contacts within their networks. This approach helps you build a strong foundation for your professional network without starting from scratch.
3. Leverage Social Media and Online Platforms
Social media and online platforms are powerful tools for professional networking. For example, LinkedIn, with over 930 million users, is ideal for connecting with industry professionals, showcasing your expertise, and finding job opportunities. You can also network on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X (formally Twitter), and industry-specific forums.
Start by optimizing your profiles with a professional photo, a clear summary, and detailed descriptions of your skills and interests. Expand your network by connecting with professionals, alumni, and even people interested in the same software you’re using.
Regularly post about your achievements, projects, and research to showcase your expertise. Engaging with content, commenting thoughtfully, and joining discussions can increase your visibility and credibility in your field, helping you build a robust professional network.
4. Reach Out Directly
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t always have to sit through countless events to meet the right people. You can use LinkedIn or other platforms to identify professionals whose career path you’d like to follow.
Craft a concise and polite email stating your interest in their career and requesting some advice directly. If they’re a famous freelancer, ask them how they got their first freelance client and even how they deal with late payments or broken promises from collaborators.
What you’ll be getting is tailor-made advice, sprinkled with the personal experiences of someone who’s moving the mountains you’re currently trying to climb. This is something you won’t find in any bootcamp or cookie-cutter course.
5. Invest in Yourself and Your Online Appearance
Networking may be a gargantuan task at first, but it’s merely the first step in establishing professional relationships as a graduate. Once you build a proper network, you need to utilize it effectively, and in this endeavor, how you appear and position yourself.
If your recent networking efforts resulted in a lot of offers, investing in a chatbot to answer queries or a digital signature API for easier contract signing might be prudent choices. Likewise, you should already have the right tech stack for your job and industry. Imagine being a graphic designer and not being able to service your clients with Canva, Photoshop or Illustrator. It would be a disaster, wouldn’t it?
Exactly, it would, which is why you should think about what you want to accomplish, how you want to come off to your network and what are the costs of accomplishing that goal. It will feel awkward in the beginning, but you’ll soon grow into the image you want to convey.
Making the Most of Your Networking Baby Steps
When you’re just starting, don’t worry—nobody is expecting you to communicate like an experienced leader or leverage your network to close six-figure contracts right away. Networking is challenging for everyone, especially for those who are naturally introverted or new to the professional world.
If you’re having trouble breaking through and establishing meaningful connections, base your approach on these networking pillars for fresh graduates:
Be Authentic
Building genuine relationships is more valuable than simply seeking benefits. Approach networking with sincerity and a genuine interest in others. Authenticity fosters trust and makes your interactions more meaningful. People are more likely to help and support you if they feel a real connection.
Be Prepared
Having a clear pitch is essential. It should contain:
- Who you are
- What you do
- Why you do it
- What sets you apart
Most importantly, you should have a long, more storytelling-oriented version, along with a 30-second or less elevator pitch you can replicate and modify to capture people’s attention fast.
Listen Actively
Active listening is crucial in networking. Show genuine interest in others’ experiences and insights by asking thoughtful questions and paying attention to their responses. This not only helps you learn but also demonstrates that you’re actually there to learn and respect others, instead of just looking for connections.
Offer Value
Networking is a two-way street. Share useful information, resources, or assistance with your network. Whether it’s forwarding a relevant article, offering to help with a project, or making an introduction, providing value strengthens your relationships and builds goodwill. You might not see tangible benefits right away, but you can rest assured your network will return the favor when you need it the most.
Some of The Main Networking Challenges and How to Overcome Them
As mentioned earlier, networking for fresh graduates is far from smooth sailing. So don’t expect flawless performances and valuable connections at every turn. Instead, learn how to expect these issues and learn to tackle them:
Dealing with Shyness
For introverts, who comprise anywhere between 25% and 40% of all professionals, networking can be challenging due to feelings of shyness or discomfort in social situations. To overcome this, start by setting small, achievable goals, such as attending one event per month or reaching out to one new contact per week.
To feel more confident, prepare conversation starters and questions in advance. Practice active listening and focus on building one-on-one connections rather than trying to meet everyone.
You can also use online networking platforms to initiate conversations and build relationships gradually. Remember, networking is a skill that can be developed over time, and it’s okay to take breaks when needed.
Time Management
As a graduate, balancing networking activities with work, personal life, and other commitments can be challenging. To effectively manage your time, create a networking plan with specific goals and action items to avoid feeling the effects of networking burnout.
Prioritize events and opportunities that align with your career objectives. Block out dedicated time in your schedule for networking activities, such as attending events or sending follow-up emails. Utilize time-saving tools, like LinkedIn, to connect with professionals and engage in conversations.
Be selective about the events you attend and the connections you pursue, focusing on quality over quantity. Regularly assess your networking efforts and adjust your plan as needed.
Rejections
Rejection is a common experience in networking, whether it’s an unanswered email, a declined meeting request, or a job application that doesn’t lead to an offer. To cope with rejection, first, acknowledge that it’s a normal part of the process and not a reflection of your worth.
Analyze the situation objectively to identify any areas for improvement, such as refining your approach or targeting more relevant contacts. Use rejections as opportunities to learn and grow, seeking feedback when appropriate. Maintain a positive attitude and focus on the connections you have made rather than dwelling on setbacks.
Persistence and resilience are key to overcoming rejections and achieving your networking goals.
Conclusion
Networking is a powerful tool for new graduates to build their careers. It goes beyond just exchanging business cards; it’s about building relationships that can offer support, advice, and opportunities.
Hence, an effective approach to networking can lead to job referrals, mentorship, and industry insights, all key to career growth.
