Guide to Confident and Accessible Networking
What is Networking?
Networking can sound intimidating but at its core, networking is about getting to know people and building professional relationships over time. It can be defined as the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.
The goal is to connect with others, by getting to know what they do, sharing a bit about yourself and getting curious about their experience or organisation. You never know where the conversation might lead!
You might like to watch the recording from our workshop on networking, which you can find here on AHEAD’s YouTube channel.
Many people hear the word networking and imagine introducing themselves to strangers at conferences or walking around career fairs connecting with employers. This is a form of networking, but it also may not work for you. In reality, networking happens in a lot of different ways and you might already be doing it without realising. For example, you might:
- Connect with a lecturer about an area of work that interests you
- Stay in touch with a contact from a placement or internship
- Connect with someone on LinkedIn after hearing them speak at an event
- Hear of an opportunity through a friend or family
- Link in with a former classmate working in an organisation that you’re interested in
Purpose of Networking
Networking is not necessarily about asking people for help finding a job. Most of the time, it’s more about:
- Learning more about different jobs, sectors and organisations
- Understanding how other people got started in their careers or why they may have switched careers
- Finding out what skills and experiences are useful in different roles
- Hearing about opportunities that you may not have otherwise come across
- Building relationships with people who share your interests or work in areas that interest you
As we mentioned before, it’s about building relationships over time and very often you will see the benefit of networking with time.
When does networking happen?
Professional networking can happen in many different places and it’s important to recognise that different approaches might suit you better than others. Some people enjoy attending events and meeting new people where others build their networks through online connections, existing relationships or in their workplace. The different approaches can include:
- Career fairs, workshops and employer events
- Conferences and seminars
- Placements, internships, work experience, volunteering and parttime jobs
- Student societies and committees
- LinkedIn and other online professional platforms or groups
- Conversations with lecturers, tutors and careers advisers
- Classmates and alumni networks
- Current and former colleagues
- Friends and family members
Networking Online
Online networking can sometimes feel more accessible as it gives you more time to think about what you want to say and respond in your own time. Keep in mind that you do not need to build a large following or become very active online for online networking to be worthwhile. You might approach it by:
- Connecting with someone after meeting them at an event, work experience etc
- Sending a message to connect with someone whose career path interests you
- Joining professional groups related to your area of interest
- Following organisations that you would like to work for on social media
Networking In Person
For some people, networking in person can feel energising, exciting and worthwhile, whereas for others it is exhausting, overwhelming and can often feel inaccessible. If you attend an event, it can help to set some small and realistic goals like:
- Speaking to two or three people
- Finding out more about an organisation you’re interested in
- Asking for contact details for someone you would like to stay in touch with
Remember that one meaningful conversation is often more valuable than speaking briefly to twenty people.
Making in person networking work for you
There is no right way to network. You might prefer one-to-one conversations instead of groups or prefer online communication to in person interactions. You might also find networking easier in structured environments like placements or volunteering roles where these conversations may happen more naturally over time.
A bit of preparation can make a real difference in reducing uncertainty and helping you to feel more confident before you approach employers. Before you start speaking with employers, it might help to think about what you’d like to get out of the day.
You might like to draft a short introduction or elevator pitch. You can keep this very simple with some of the following in mind:
- Introducing who you are
- Briefly describe your background or experience
- Share what you’re interested in or hoping to learn
- Ask a question
To help you stand out, make sure you do your research and know a little about the companies/people you want to speak with.
Think about what supports might help to make you feel more comfortable during the event. Not every environment will meet your needs fully, but you can shape your experience to work better for you by:
- Requesting accommodations where appropriate (quiet space, seating, early access, floor layouts in advance)
- Bringing supports like headphones, sunglasses, notes or cue cards
- Taking short breaks and deciding how long you want to stay
- Giving yourself time to recharge afterwards
Reframing nerves into curiosity
If you notice yourself feeling nervous, you’re not alone! Most people feel that way, even if it doesn’t look like it. Sometimes it can help to shift the focus away from ‘saying the right thing’ and instead get a bit curious. You might like to think about the following before you go into the conversation:
- What could I learn from this person?
- What might be interesting about their role or organisation?
- What’s one thing I’m genuinely curious to know more about here?
Questions to ask
When it comes to networking, it can be nerve wracking to know what to say especially when it’s in person. You might worry about saying the wrong thing or not knowing how to start a conversation with someone. It might be helpful to remember that most people enjoy talking about their own experiences and careers, so don’t be afraid to ask! Having a few questions prepared can give you a sense of control and helps the conversation flow. Some useful questions include:
- How did you get into this area of work?
- What do you enjoy most about your role?
- What advice would you give to someone starting out?
- Are there any skills or experiences that you would recommend developing?
- What does progression typically look like in this area/organisation?
Questions you might be asked
Keep in mind that they may also ask you questions so it might be useful to take some time to prepare in advance. This could simply be reviewing your CV in order to refresh your memory, researching some organisations or roles that you’re curious about. They might ask you things like:
- Could you tell me a bit about yourself? (Remember your elevator pitch!)
- What are you studying or what area are you working in?
- What type of work interests you?
- What are you hoping to do next in your career?
- What skills or experience do you feel you bring?
You don’t need to have perfect answers for these questions, focus on being honest and keeping it simple.
Tips for the day
- As you move through the day, be kind to yourself! You don’t need to speak to everyone and do everything perfectly.
- In person events are very often about learning, connecting and getting more comfortable in these types of spaces. Showing up and taking part is already a big step.
- Listen to your body and take breaks where needed.
- If you have a good conversation and it feels appropriate, you can always ask for contact details to follow up after the event.
- Be yourself! Remember your value and what you can bring to the organisation.
After the event
Networking doesn't stop after the interaction ends. If it feels appropriate, you can:
- Connect on LinkedIn
- Send a short, personalised thank-you or follow-up message
- Stay in touch occasionally or engage with their posts, without pressure
Building your Professional Community
Professional relationships and networks often grow slowly over time and you do not need hundreds of professional contacts to make it worthwhile. A small number of meaningful professional relationships can make a difference over the course of your career.
The person you worked with during a placement, a classmate from a group project, a speaker you connected with online or an employer you spoke with at a careers fair may all become part of your professional network in the future.
Remember to be kind to yourself throughout this process as networking is a real skill that develops over time with practice. Go at your own pace and remember that professional relationships are built through lots of small conversations rather than one perfect interaction.
Good luck!