Being a college student is tough. Between studying for exams, worrying about those looming student loans, and deciding what to do with the rest of your life, there’s simply not enough time to start building a network.

When you’re juggling so many time commitments, it can be difficult to recognize what an opportunity you have right now to start planning for your future success—but it’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss. I’m talking about building your professional network, and if you think that means handing out business cards and contact info, you’re going to miss out.

When it comes to your future career, what you know is important. You need the skills and knowledge necessary to do your job and do it well. But when it comes to landing that job, who you know will have a huge impact on your success. Thankfully, college provides an enormous amount of opportunity for you to start building those relationships, and here are a few tips for how to get started.

Get in the right frame of mind

What happens in college isn’t going to stay there. That doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and need to treat every day like a job interview, but remember that you’re always building your personal brand. So make a point of being friendly and helpful whenever you can. Treat your school assignments, internships, and volunteer work like a job. Don’t sit in the same seat every time you have a class—move around, meet new people and you never know what you’ll find out. If you’re shy or nervous about starting conversations, remember this: if you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.

Take advantage of that college education

Career fairs, speakers, student organization, lectures—never again are you going to have so many chances to learn new things, meet new people, and build a network. Not only will you be exposed to new ideas and people, you’ll also be discovering new things about yourself, maybe realizing a new career path you’d like to follow. Getting involved is going to give you the opportunity to form new relationships, but it will also make you a more interesting conversationalist and a better-rounded personality.

You already know successful professionals

Don’t forget the people further along their career path than you. Your parents, their friends, and your friends’ parents are all valuable sources of mentorship and connection. Talk to your local Chamber of Commerce, which is a social hub for your local business community. Finally, don’t forget your professors. Many of them have side projects or businesses, and all of them know people—they may have taught your next boss or mentor. Professors are there because they enjoy interacting with students. They love their subject matter. Your college professors are probably the easiest and most promising networking connection you can have, so show interest, be active in class discussions, and make a good impression.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of social networks

The most obvious one is LinkedIn, and it’s the most obvious for a reason. This is the social website for professional networking. If you don’t have a profile, get one now—it’s free. Then start forming connections. You’ll be amazed how quickly your network grows here. Facebook and Twitter are also good networks to be active in and also be aware that they are going to be the first impression many people will have of you…post accordingly. Join interest groups and take part in online discussions. You can even publish your own thoughts and articles, which will position you as a thought leader and make networking that much easier—instead of you always being the one looking for the connection, people will start reaching out to you.

The college years are some of the best years of your life. You’re learning new things, about the world and about yourself, and you’re exploring that world as an independent individual. Invest some time into building your professional network now and you’ll reap real rewards in the future.

Zoe Anderson is an employee at StudySelect. She’s keen on learning about new branding strategies and digital marketing tools. She’s also interested in the eLearning trends.

We welcome your feedback to our work.

Email:  General Information   |   Dr. Daniel de Roulet   |   Prof. David C. Pecoraro

Thank you!

Daniel & David

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How to Start Building Your Professional Network at College