Yep, I’m going to use a more laid-back tone, aimed especially at the young people in my university classrooms, who are around 19 to 22.
Because for me, professional networking has been “paying off” ever since I was that age and set foot in a uni classroom for the first time. I made up my mind to be proactive in class, at events, at work…
Networking is about building a network of contacts who help you reach your goals, both personal and professional. It will smooth the way for you, make life a bit easier and even more fun.
Don’t be shy about making new contacts at uni or in vocational training: your classmates, students from other classes and years and, of course, the lecturers in front of you. Many of us, like me, have a job and experience in several companies, so we can give you a push towards your first work placements and even your first salaried job.
GET STUCK INTO LINKEDIN RIGHT NOW!
So from your first year, get on LinkedIn and create a profile “like a PRO”, as I like to say. A decent photo, a couple of paragraphs about what you like and what motivates you. What you’re studying and what you’d like to be.
Fill in as many sections as you can. Extra courses, languages…
Even if you’ve only done a 3-month placement, include it and highlight what you did in particular.
Everything counts, even volunteering, whether you play a sport professionally, whether you’ve been class rep or won an award.
Into tourism? Then join tourism communities. If it’s the financial, property or health sector… you’ll find some twenty very powerful private groups on LinkedIn. Join them and learn from them. And later on, share content to start building authority and credibility.
Don’t forget the JOBS section on LinkedIn, where you can set up an alert to notify you of on-site or remote job offers, in the city or cities you choose, full time or part time, as well as placements or contracted jobs.
GO TO EVENTS
Even if you’re under 25, don’t hold back: sign up for professional events in your sector and on topics that interest you, and tell the attendees what you’re studying and what you’d like to do.
I take my entrepreneurship students to the very best events in the ecosystem, and I’m super proud to see how well they handle themselves.
There are hundreds of events on whatever interests you, more than you could ever get through, and you’ll find them on Eventbrite, Meetup and on LinkedIn itself.
LEARN NEW THINGS
Keep learning beyond the classroom too. There are thousands of free courses and tutorials to keep improving your professional skills. Do you know Coursera, Platzi or Domestika…? You need more resources than your mates to be the one who comes out on top.
On the other hand, during your university or vocational training years there are more and more contests, competitions and hackathons organised by companies to discover talent like yours. It’s a tremendous opportunity to show what you know. Some people even take the plunge and start a business while at university. If so, look for good mentors and apply to incubators and other awards.
You’re at the perfect moment to lay good foundations and go far thanks to the contacts you make from now on.
At uni, at work, in your circle of friends, doing your hobbies, with your family… don’t let your guard down.
Let’s go!
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