Here’s Why You Should Be Networking in College

Connections are crucial to keep you healthy. People with strong social networks live five years longer than those without networks. A critical place to build your social network is in college. College is many people’s first exposure to thousands of people with interests like them. People build lifelong friendships and professional partnerships. But many people don’t start networking in college until late in their careers. Some people are too nervous to socialize. One step that can help is understanding the benefits of networking in college. Here is a quick guide. How Important Is Networking in College? Networking is important from orientation all the way to retirement. Friendships improve physical and psychological health. Even forming acquaintances with other people improves your overall well-being. Networking strengthens industry connections. You can learn from your friends and associates about your industry. You can develop your skills, pursuing projects with them. You can get new ideas from your friends. Talking to your contacts gives you another perspective on what you’re thinking about. You can discuss recent events in your industry, allowing you to develop a richer understanding of them. Most people network in college for job opportunities. 48 million Americans have Bachelor’s degrees and 21 million have Master’s degrees. Connections allow you to stand out from the crowd and get a job. Networking with teachers and professionals is also important. College professors have years of experience in their industries. They can put your name out there, encouraging employers to hire you. How to Network in College Start networking right away. Meet as many people as you can during orientation. Join clubs and attend their opening meetings to meet their leaders. Take every opportunity you can to get noticed. Participate as much as you can in class. Volunteer to tutor and help students out with their projects. Go to job fairs and mixers. Even short conversations with recruiters can help you land a job down the line. Keep up with your social media accounts. Join friend groups for your college class and the individual courses you are taking. Share material related to your school on your pages. There are social media platforms that allow you to network with your classmates. Sites like Learnconnect are designed so college students can connect with other college students. Reach out to people from your school and from across the world. You never know when someone can do something for you. Make sure your relationships go both ways. You can take from your connections, but you should give back to them in turn. The Importance of Networking in College A lot of people know the power of networking. Yet those same people find networking in college difficult. Knowing the benefits of it may put your mind at ease. Networking is extremely important. It lets you hone your skills in your chosen field. It lets you make connections that can land you jobs and future opportunities. Start networking during orientation. Take every opportunity you can to network, including in the classroom. Hop onto social media and join communities related to your school. Empower yourself and your connections with the facts. Follow our coverage for important education guides.