Tips for Navigating Networking

Networking… Yikes. An essential part of a career in Advertising, Public Relations, Communication, and frankly every career ever. Why do we have to network? Creating professional relationships is a huge career plus! You never know who can open a door for you in the future, or what may be in store for you. There is a whole network of jobs that are not being posted, simply because it becomes a “who you know” moment.  Networking doesn’t have to be a big daunting challenge, let’s talk about ways you can integrate networking into your life. 

Assessing Your Everyday Life.

As students, we are in one of the easiest environments to network because we are surrounded by people with different backgrounds and career aspirations. Networking in your everyday life might look like maintaining healthy relationships with classmates, introducing yourself, remembering names, and conversing with someone new. As scary as this may seem to my fellow introverts, it makes it one thousand times easier to walk into a room and recognize at least one person.

Taking for granted the knowledge of professors is another missed opportunity in networking. Not only can they provide significant career and education advice, but they have connections. There is an established professional in the front of the room who would most likely be more than happy to connect with you on LinkedIn or give you recommendations for a job you may fit in.

Finding Mentors

 I talked about it in my last blog, and I will say it once again, mentors can make navigating the networking world a whole lot easier. Whether this is a professor, a boss, an upperclassman, or someone who you reached out to, mentors have been through this before. They want to help. Try to keep in contact with these mentors, go out for coffee, and chat every once in a while. Career advice never hurts. Finding a mentor can be as simple as a LinkedIn or Handshake search.

I have been participating in West Michigan's Public Relations Society of America’s Mentor Match Program. Finding a mentor has been so useful and I have received beneficial career advice, on what I should be changing, and what I should continue doing. What kind of jobs should I be looking for? What kind of information should I put in my resumé or cover letter? What kind of tasks should I be looking for in a job? By asking these questions, I have a better idea of the direction I should take to ensure my confidence in future opportunities

Attend Events

Networking opportunities on and off campus are endless and provide small steps in making you comfortable in professional social settings. On campus, there are various career fairs. You never know who or what is going to happen at these events. Even if you aren’t looking for a job, immersing yourself in a professional environment never hurts, and the overall experience may help you in future interviews. Just within Grand Valley’s Public Relations Student Society of America (GVPRSSA) you can attend the tours,  bonding events, and be involved in our bi-weekly meetings. Networking is accessible to students, you just have to be able to seek out these opportunities!

In the end, it's what you put into it that you get out of it. Networking is an essential part of building a successful career. It may seem daunting, but by making the effort to connect with others and seek out opportunities, you can improve your chances of finding rewarding and fulfilling work. So take advantage of the resources available to you. Whether it's your classmates, professors, or professional organizations like GVPRSSA, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. 

If you are interested, GVSU’s Career Center has a page on networking where you can learn more. Now it is your turn! Try to be more open to networking in your everyday life, and strive to be more participatory at every chance you can!

Dominic is a junior pursuing a degree in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Digital Studies. Dominic is our current Podcast Director for the 2023-2024 school year. He enjoys graphic design work as well as video and audio editing. In the future, Dominic hopes to pursue a career in graphic design or radio.