How to Start Building Your Network

Written by Skylar Gieger

I believe that almost every student at UCF has heard the words “network, network, network” come out of a professor’s mouth when asked how to become career-ready. Not only have I heard this from every single professor since starting at UCF, but I hear it countless times a semester. Networking is the act of forming connections with people for a professional purpose. You will use your network throughout your entire professional career and beyond. Many would say a network is the most valuable thing to have in the professional world. 

After hearing how important it is to network during your time at UCF, I started to worry because I wasn’t sure where to begin. It was especially challenging because I was scared to make these important connections, worried that I would do something wrong. At the time, it seemed as though everyone else was already 20 steps ahead of me, and I felt like I was the only one who did not have it figured out yet. Alas, after doing personal research and talking to my peers, I was able to come out of my shell and grow my networking skills.  

Here are three tips to begin your networking journey: 

Tip 1: Create and post on a LinkedIn account. To some, this may seem like an obvious thing to do, but when I heard people talking about LinkedIn, I thought I wouldn’t need to create an account or be active on the platform. I was wrong; LinkedIn is very beneficial, especially for communications. After I finally caved and made an account, I discovered how helpful the platform would be. LinkedIn offers everything you need to network and connect with professionals, peers and organizations. You have the opportunity to promote what you are doing to kickstart your career while working towards your degree. Posts can include what you are learning in classes, new skills, jobs, internships, volunteering, etc. On top of that, you can see what other students are achieving, view available jobs/internships, and contact professionals in your industry. Connecting with people on LinkedIn may seem odd or challenging at first, so I recommend connecting with your friends and classmates first to build your profile. Remember, your goal should be to post regularly and interact with others by commenting, reposting, and liking posts. This will not only get your name out there but also act as a platform for you to look back on and see what you have accomplished.  

Tip 2: Join clubs related to your major. This is such a great way to connect with like-minded students. It is also the easiest way to find people who are in the same shoes as you or have most likely been where you are. Learning from your peers can sometimes offer a different perspective than learning from professors or advisors. Connecting with those in the club gives you the comfort of knowing that you are not alone. Along with that, these are the people you will have in your classes for your remaining time at UCF and who you will most likely be entering the industry with. It is beneficial to have these people in your network because they will be the ones you need the most now and in the future. 

Tip 3: Go to office hours. I found this to be difficult when I started at UCF because I was unsure what to say. I understood the topics in class, so I struggled to find a reason to go to my professor’s office hours. There are many reasons to attend office hours. Including formally introducing yourself, asking more personal questions, such as help finding an internship, and diving deeper into class content. Become recognizable to your professors because when an opportunity arises, they will remember those who went out of their way to make the connection and show genuine interest in getting to know them. In addition, you can learn more about the professional industry. Your professors have experience, connections, advice, and much more information to offer if you ask them about it.