We all know that the benefits of going to university don’t stop at getting a degree. Not only do you get to have a sort of halfway house experience between living with your parents and living alone, but you can make important lifelong connections with people and companies which are often career changing.
Thankfully, nepotism is beginning to be a thing of the past, but the phrase “it’s not what you know, but who you know” is getting ever more important. So, in light of that, here are some key tips on making connections in your relevant industry over your three, four or maybe more years at university.
Get to know people on your course
Yes, a lot of the time all you want to do is get away from anyone who will remind you of exactly how many hours it is until your next assignment is due, and precisely how much better they did than you in the last one. However, these people are ultimately likely to be seeking a career in a similar vein to yours, so it’s good to get to know as many people as possible.
Use, but don’t abuse social media
Twitter is especially useful in terms of making connections as it allows you to have direct conversation with a company or individual fairly easily. Plus, you can keep up with what they’re doing!
Join relevant societies
Again, this is a great chance to get to meet people at university who want to go into a similar career as you. You never know what you might find out from getting to know them: where an easy internship lays, how to get hired by a certain company, the list goes on.
Finally, remember that you don’t have to come to university with connections already made, even if it feels demoralising to find out that your fellow engineer has parents, an uncle and a second cousin in the industry. Attend all the relevant events you can, talk to people and take advantage of every opportunity offered to you. Good luck!
Do you have any extra advice on making connections? Let us know in the comments below!
Photo: Martin Cathrae / Flickr
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