Networking 101

TLDR:

• Engage in networking with passion and interests in mind.

  
  

• Connect with networking groups like 93% club and companies like Wiser Academy

  
  

• Teach people and show off your passions and knowledge.

  
  

When I started university one of the most common pieces of advice I would get was about being open to networking. To some, that sounds like LinkedIn waffle, and it can be. But under the pretense and clout chasing is the ability to gain opportunities from people and market yourself to those people be it professors, bosses, or supervisors who can connect you to those opportunities.

The ability to network effectively has helped me secure internal contracts, a graduate scheme and build the network to launch a service like CMD.

Below I discuss my top 3 observations from successful networking and how you can use them.

Talk to people who are doing work you are interested in.

This can be as simple as discussing a lecture with a professor, picking a committee member's brains about a society, or engaging with educational events. Start by stating what interests you about their work and ask them a question about it. Networking with these similar interests in mind helps reduce the awkwardness that you may feel.

By opening the discussion in this way, you are inviting someone to tell you about current projects and potential work to get involved in. If you want to showcase your passion for an area, consider viewing this blog ____ which talks about marketing your skills and interests. For example, in my third year of university, I spoke to my professor after his lecture on Earth observation and post-processing. I asked if he could keep an ear out for any internships or paid work experience in GIS or remote sensing. I didn't expect anything from this really, but I was cautiously optimistic.

A month later an executive member of the university reached out to me for a project. He said he offered it to the professor, but the professor was too busy and recommended me. That project has now grown into a 10-month ongoing contract as a technology consultant for the University.

If you don't ask you don't get and if you practice asking you get better.

Join and participate in networking organisations

These groups often come in two flavours and are rapidly expanding. We have the big ones like 93% club, bright network, and prospects.

These networking and career insight platforms offer a wide range of low-level support and information on sectors like finance, banking, technology, consulting, and politics. They also offer more specialised mentoring but often this is on an eligibility or case by case basis.

Then we have the smaller more focused networking firms like the Wiser Academy. The Wiser Academy provides students with a paid part time job in social media (paid social) and facilitates networking with some of the biggest firms including KPMG, Frasers Group, Knight Frank and haysmacentire (2022-2023 client list not exhaustive). Use these organisations for both events to market yourself and to reach out to recruiters.

Key events to look out for are 93% social mobility factory, Internship experience 2024 by Bright Network and university or local career fairs.

Networking by teaching and sharing knowledge.

Another way to network especially as you go through your university years is to share experiences with other students and communities that share a common interest. For example, finance students will often create a newsletter about commercial awareness or investing. Show off projects you have contributed to or interesting concepts you have come across.

The golden rule here is to think about what content you would have found interesting when you started university or looking at what career to pursue.

If it is appropriate to the sector build a portfolio, either technical or creative to show how you develop your skills and knowledge beyond formal education.

Engage with university committee events or local community events that give you the opportunity to present your projects and talk to likeminded individuals.