Networking Tips for Young Professionals

I had no idea what a network was when I was in college. I knew that I wanted a job but I didn’t know that meeting people was part of the way you found a job. I made lists of companies and looked for jobs but I didn’t have a clue that what I was doing was building a network. And then I realized I wasn’t finding a job. I was tired. I had talked to a lot of people and I was starting to lose confidence that I was ever going to get hired. So started talking to people I knew to ask for help. I found several people a few years older than me to talk to and see what they were doing for work. I started asking my parents friends what they did and if they knew anyone in advertising which was the field I really wanted an internship in.

I also started thinking about who I cold talk to that could act as a mentor for me. I wanted someone that wouldn’t make me feel like a dumb dumb but would encourage me to strive for my goals. I didn’t ask them formally to mentor me which maybe I should have done but I spent time talking to them about what i really wanted to get done.

I also volunteered. It was a great way for me to meet new people that were already working and seemed to have a clue about this thing called life. I picked a place to volunteer that I was passionate about and it was an easy way for me to make connections.

So if you’re starting out in your networking or you’re stuck then you want to consider do you have the top four types of people in your set of relationships.

• Peer

• Connector

• Mentor

• Volunteer

Start with these relationships and your list of connections will naturally expand and you will be able to accomplish your goals.