While networking is said to be an extremely useful tool in building one’s career, navigating the professional world as a student can be quite daunting. While the LSE website has its own useful guide to networking, sometimes it’s not as easy in practice as it is in theory, and there may be many obstacles holding you back from creating meaningful connections and expanding your networks and opportunities.
Taking on board the networking experience of many LSE students as well as my own, I sat down with careers consultant Shayna Main to discuss how to build networking skills as an LSE student, and how to navigate the complicated world of creating personal connections in the corporate/professional world. Shayna is an experienced careers coach and learning and development specialist, who has worked with a variety of organisations ranging from FTSE 100 firms to not-for-profits. Our LSE Student Futures ambassador team also chipped in some of their top tips, giving you the skills and advice to expand your network and build meaningful and lasting connections in your professional life.
What are some first steps you would recommend to students who have no prior experience with networking?
There are many routes to start building your network as a student. As an LSE student without yet having many professional contacts, these are some good places to start:
– Take a look at the resources on LSE Careers website, where there are lots of valuable tips on how to get started
– Check CareerHub for when we’re running our next seminar on networking and sign up
– Create a LinkedIn profile and book a one-to-one appointment with a Careers Consultant to get feedback.
I find that networking through LinkedIn has been helpful with my career development, taking note of the opportunities out there as well as looking at which people to approach when it comes to applying for a specific role you are interested in.
Kaiser
How can students build professional confidence when networking, given how easy it can be to get intimidated by more experienced professionals, particularly those you admire/aspire towards?
Remember that everyone has to start somewhere, and the experienced professionals you may aspire to have once been in the same situation as you. Use the LSE alumni network (you can search and connect with people via the LSE page on LinkedIn using the ‘alumni’ feature). Alumni are generally happy to help – they enjoy talking about their careers and areas of shared interest and will want to know about your experience of LSE too.
When networking, I try to practise attentive listening since it helps me to learn more about the person. People like to be heard and given the right attention.
Westri
What are some different, informal, and perhaps unconventional ways of networking, outside of attending networking events / reaching out to people on LinkedIn and scheduling a networking call?
I find it helps to think of ‘networking’ as ‘building connections’, as this is of course what it’s essentially about. And there still lots are opportunities to build connections, even with COVID restrictions in place. Be friendly, be interested in others and don’t assume that people can’t help just because they’re not in your formal ‘network’. Let people in your existing network know what you’d like help with – they’ll often be happy to introduce you to their connections.
We feel most comfortable building connections with people that share a similarity: a community, language or cultural background. It is important to harness these connections and create a network that can support an individual’s social, psychological and occupational needs.
Arshee
What is some advice you would give on talking about yourself and your work/research when networking?
Make it relevant for the person you’re talking to. Identify what part of your work or research would be most interesting to them and use this as a way of creating a shared conversation. Think about how to explain your experience or area of research in a way that’s simple and concise – sometimes this takes a bit of practice!
How can you continue the relationship with people, beyond your initial networking session?
Always send a follow up note of thanks. Be proactive in staying in touch. Remember, this is about building lasting connections. Keep them in touch with your progress, share information, resources, connections that you think they might be interested in. And if you’ve committed to an action they’ve suggested, make sure you follow through on it.
Keep in touch with your contacts, and take advantage of opportunities to connect with them naturally. For example, during my first master’s, I was in a very small online class taught by one of my favourite instructors. When I met her in person at a conference, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. A few years later, she gladly wrote the reference letter for the program I’m currently in.
Brendan
In short, networking is an extremely useful tool for developing one’s career. Even as students who are only starting out in their professional journey, there are still a multitude of ways to start building connections and hone your networking skills. Start small, and you’ll be surprised at how far you’ll go!
Note: This article gives the views of the authors, and not the position of the Social Policy Blog, nor of the London School of Economics.
