As summer comes to an end, I started thinking about all of the spaces and rooms we may have found ourselves in this summer, and how many opportunities we had to connect with someone new.
Maybe you made a new friend at a coffee shop, met someone while hanging out at the park, connected with someone at an event, or simply added a new person on social media. You may not have thought about it at the time, but you were networking!
Networking is simply about building relationships and making connections.
It is an important skill to build as a student, but it does not stop once you graduate and land a job. Throughout your career, your network can help you learn about new opportunities, explore different career paths, collaborate on projects, find mentors, and even connect someone else to an opportunity.
And in today’s tight labor market, building relationships matters.
Networking Has Gone Digital
I will admit that I sometimes feel uneasy introducing myself to new people, especially in a room full of people I do not know. The good news is that networking no longer requires you to walk into a crowded room and start handing out business cards.
We now have digital networking.
I learned this myself while attending an in-person event. Instead of asking for my business card, someone asked for my LinkedIn profile so we could connect. At the time, I did not even have a LinkedIn account! I was caught off guard, but it made me realize how much networking has changed.
We are living in a digital world, and many professional relationships now begin online.
As I have used LinkedIn more, I have realized how valuable it can be. I can look at job opportunities and see whether someone in my network works for that organization. I can find alumni working in fields or organizations that interest me. I can follow employers, learn about different career paths, share resources, and connect with professionals who have similar interests.
Sometimes I receive connection requests from people I do not know personally, and my first reaction is to wonder, Why are they adding me? But then I remember that networking is about building a professional community.
You never know where one connection may lead.
Someone in your network may not have the answer you need, but they may know someone who does. Someone may see something you post and share it with their network. An employer may come across your profile. An alum may be willing to talk with you about their career journey.
That is the power of building connections.
Internships Are Networking, Too!
One of the reasons internships can be such a valuable part of your college experience is that you are not only building your skills, you are also building your professional network.
Think about everyone you may meet during an internship: your supervisor, colleagues, other interns, organizational leaders, clients, community partners, and professionals from other departments.
Those relationships can continue beyond the internship.
Your supervisor could eventually become a professional reference. A colleague may tell you about a future job opening. Someone you meet through a project may introduce you to another professional in your field. Even if your internship does not immediately lead to a job, the relationships and experiences you gain can continue to open doors.
That is why I encourage students to think about an internship as more than something you complete for academic credit. It is an opportunity to gain experience, build skills, and grow your professional community.
If you are interested in gaining real-world experience in your field, the SUNY Empire Internship Initiative is one way to begin building both your experience and your network while you are still a student.
Start Building Your Digital Network
If networking makes you nervous, start small.
If you have not created a LinkedIn account yet, that can be your first step. Add classmates, friends, faculty, colleagues, and people you already know. Follow organizations where you could see yourself working or interning. Search for SUNY Empire alumni working in careers that interest you.
And do not be afraid to reach out.
You can send a simple message introducing yourself and asking someone if they would be willing to share more about their career, organization, or experience. You are not asking them for a job, you are starting a conversation and building a relationship.
Our Career & Experiential Learning Services team can also help students create and navigate LinkedIn, strengthen their profiles, and develop strategies for making professional connections.
As a SUNY Empire student, you also have access to LinkedIn Learning. There are trainings that can help you strengthen your networking and career-readiness skills, and you can earn certificates that showcase the new skills you are developing.
Who Will You Add to Your Network This Year?
As the days start getting cooler and a new academic year begins, I challenge you to think about how you will build your network this year.
Maybe you will create your first LinkedIn profile.
Maybe you will connect with a SUNY Empire alum.
Maybe you will introduce yourself to someone working at your dream organization.
Maybe you will pursue an internship and meet professionals working in your field.
Or maybe you will simply send one message to someone new.
In a competitive job market, your skills, education, and experiences matter, but relationships matter, too. Sometimes it is not only about who you know, but who knows you, what you can do, and the relationships you have taken the time to build.
You do not have to know everyone.
Start with one connection. You never know where it may lead.
Resources:
https://careerhub.sunyempire.edu/resources/networking
https://careerhub.sunyempire.edu/blog/2024/11/04/how-to-network-on-linkedin-like-a-pro
