Networking is your Superpower

I’m sure by now we’ve all heard of the buzzword. Maybe you’ve got that one friend that won’t stop raving about LinkedIn, or you’ve seen some guy on TikTok telling you, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”. 

Wherever you heard it, networking is often an untapped potential that could make the next step in your career so much more attainable.

What is networking?

Networking is much like making friends, you interact and build genuine connections with one or multiple individuals. Typically these are people within a shared field, profession, or interests. In essence, it is meeting up with people on the basis that there is a shared common ground, with the intention of establishing a working relationship and give you a competitive edge over your peers.

Professionals use networking to widen there circle of acquaintances, find out about career opportunities that aren’t otherwise known to the public, and increase their awareness of news and industry trends.

But why should you network?

1. You can cultivate stronger connections within your industry
2. You can fast-track your career
3. You can learn valuable career advice
4. You can gain fresh ideas and diverse perspectives
5. You can access new job opportunities that you wouldn't find online
6. You'll stay in the loop on industry trends
7. You can boost both your confidence and communication skills
8. There is a chance to connect with potential mentors

So how do you start networking?

Attending events such as Strive is a great way to start building connections and expand your network. You can join skills workshops, listen in on guest panels, take notes on employability advice and join their big networking event.

Again, networking is like making friends, though not all connections you make will help you to grow professionally. It'll help to listen and learn about what the other party can offer so that you can best determine if that connection can help both you and them. And if you're a little on the shy side, that's okay too, there's a lot of tips online that can help you network.

(Dont forget to add your new connections on LinkedIn).

Strive 2024

If you would like to attend our networking event, you can find all the details about Strive 2024 here. We encourage all students to visit as it is a perfect starting point for networking.