Practical networking advice for those heading to college campuses.
In the next few weeks students will be heading off to or returning to college campuses. (Not to mention the staff and faculty who will have been enjoying the slow summer period.) While the networking advice in my articles and in The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You apply universally, I want to reframe some of it specifically for college campuses.
Yes, college is about learning in class or research, really a different type of learning; this applies to both faculty and students. But learning isn’t just done in the classroom. A key part of the college experience for everyone is exposure to new ideas. Meeting new people helps you discover new ideas or different perspectives. Colleges know it’s not just about the experience in the classroom. Actively networking, meeting people with new ideas and fostering relationships with them, is part of your learning process.
Sure, the seniors have been around longer than the first years, but everyone is both newish and in transition. College is the period where you give up the pattern of your life the past eighteen years—home, school, friends—and try a new set of people, locations, and routines. This doesn’t mean you lost your old home or high school friends, but they aren’t as central to your life now as they were then. Likewise, when you graduate, it’s going to change again. Everyone knows this, conscious and subconsciously. During this time people are primed for meeting new people and making new relationships. Some may weaken when you leave (or even end), but many continue as you move into adulthood. Many students are looking for those new relationships, just like you.
Students often think of meeting other students. You certainly should as this is a shared growth experience for all of you. But there’s many more people on campus you can, and should, build relationships with. Obviously, faculty are people who are very interesting and likely to have connections in your future line of work. They're also people you’ll regularly encounter in class. Since class is usually a one-way conversation of a lecture, or they guide the class discussion, stop by their office hours to go deeper into the subject and get to know them at the same time.
But don’t just stop with faculty, get to know the staff, too. That may be researchers, administrators, or people working in specific offices like career services, the community service center, clergy, athletic coaches, or special interest groups like minority support offices. These are people who know things and care about students like you. Chances are they have seen others walk your path, maybe people from a similar background or those going into a similar field. They’ll have seen students face some of the challenges you may face. Don’t ignore them, since these folks may have advice or connections for you, or just be someone interesting to talk to. They’re working at the school because they like students, so don’t be afraid to talk to them.
Even other staff who don’t directly interact with students are worth knowing. This may include people in custodial staff, campus police, food services, and more. You’re going to see some of them weekly for years to come, get to know them. Getting to know someone new doesn’t prevent you from knowing others.
One of the best things about college campuses is that people come to you. Companies come to recruit, academics come to talk, others come for events. Literally people from all over the state, the country, or even the world will come to your campus. Go to those events, meet the build and start to build those relationships with people outside your campus. You probably can’t approach a corporate executive walking on the street, but you can when they’re at an event on campus; make the most of it.
It can be uncertain and scary when you’re starting somewhere new. You might remember back to your first day of school when you were scared to walk away from your parents and there were other strange kids you didn’t know. Those other kids were just as scared as you were. The same is true today. Most students, and others, are looking for relationships and connections just like you. It begins with hello.
If someone sits near you in the cafeteria, say “hello”. If they’re at the next table, invite them to join you. If there’s a reception and you see people standing around, say “hello” (also read What to Say at a Conference or Networking Event). If you see someone lost, ask if they need directions. Schools are a safe space, in a literal sense, that you’re not likely to discover that the stranger on campus is a chainsaw wielding maniac. Take a chance. Research has shown that people actually like to talk to strangers, and that’s in public places, here you all have something in common, you’re all part of your college community.
As you go off to school it can be scary and even isolating. It can also be one of the greatest opportunities you have to build relationships. Try meeting just one new person a month. If you enjoy it, up it once a week.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
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