The Art of Networking: Building Professional Connections in College Societies

Written by Susrita Chatterjee

Thumbnail & Banner Photo by Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

The definition of modern academia lies in encouraging professional development along with traditional academics. In terms of building a professional network, students need to possess specific people skills to help them crack interviews, enhance self-confidence, and grow their careers in their particular industry. You may have multiple technical subject-related skills, but you should also know how to reach out to potential people to showcase your skills, and identifying the right people is also necessary. In this aspect, college societies play a crucial role in connecting potential students with potential contacts in several ways. Let's explore the different initiatives a college society can take to nurture fruitful networking on campus.

Exploring the Significance of Networking in Societies

Networking means self-marketing in front of potential people, industries, or institutions. Everyone is familiar with LinkedIn nowadays. LinkedIn serves as one of the top networking platforms. Now, it has some limitations. Finding someone to connect with in the vast and diverse community of LinkedIn or similar platforms is complex. To solve this problem, college societies(i.e. Commerce Society, MBA Society of SMU) can step in. College societies can make up the gap in customized networking through alumni connections, career fairs, and collaborative events.

How to do Effective Networking

Networking is a skill that develops over time and with practice. There are some step-by-step methods on how to start networking. Let's explore the steps.

Defining Your Goals: Before deciding how to network, you must choose when and whom. It's essential to find the right time to start networking. Before that, you need to explore your short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals may include:

• Finding the right and trending skills to learn.

• Joining boot camps.

• Drafting a career plan in any specific subject or field.

Suppose you need clarification about making these choices. In that case, SMU has a lot of subject-based societies (Biology Society, MBA Society, History Society, Geology Society), which can help you gauge potential in each subject as a career option. Most societies can often bring successful professionals in some particular field, which is a straightforward way to connect with industry professionals. During your first and second years of college, try navigating these short-term goals.

Building Your Brand: Your profile will act as a business card while you are reaching out for networking opportunities. It would help to have a complete and clean profile while showcasing your skills. While resumes can be an option, some trending personal branding options are individual websites, virtual profiles, video resumes, etc. If you need clarification about how to build your brand, most societies in SMU (Like Commerce Society, SMU) often conduct LinkedIn profile-building workshops. Also, some academic coursework includes finding resources on building professional profiles. Attending those events could give you ideas on how to start. 

Try to Be Proactive: Don't wait for networking opportunities to come to you—seek them out! Contact different college societies to enquire about professional events in any particular month; For example, the 49th Business Dinner of SMU Commerce Society occurred in January 2024. Connect with the society executives to learn more about past executives' career positions or ask if they have alumni connections. 

Be Genuine and Authentic: Authenticity is the key to building meaningful connections. Be genuine while drafting your professional profile, and only showcase the skills you already possess or are learning. While narrating your story to someone, highlight your success stories genuinely. This particular habit can bring a unique touch to your professionalism.

Initiatives College Societies can take

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

College societies serve as fertile ground for networking opportunities while providing students with a supportive and engaging environment to connect with peers, faculty, alums, and industry professionals. This is how college societies can take initiative.

Academic Societies: Academic societies related to your field of study offer valuable sessions to connect with like-minded peers, faculty members, and industry professionals who share your interests. Participating in academic societies, open projects, and discussions can help you gauge the career scopes in each subject.

Collaboration with Professional Organizations: Many college societies often collaborate with different industries to organize events like office tours, business dinners, survey projects, and competitions. Attending those events can provide access to networking events, workshops, and mentorship programs to help students succeed in their chosen fields.

Alumni Networks: Alumni networks are a valuable resource for students seeking mentorship, career advice, or job opportunities. Many college societies host alumni networking events, panel discussions, and career workshops to facilitate connections between current students and graduates working in various industries.

Newsletters: Many college societies publish newsletters that mention relevant professional profiles. Sometimes, a long newsletter also contains tips & strategies for developing professional skills.

In conclusion, networking within college societies is vital for students to cultivate as they prepare for their careers. Students can expand their professional network, gain valuable insights into their chosen field, and lay the groundwork for future success through these initiatives of college societies.