Networking Nerves: How to Approach Networking

“I always thought that [networking] was more of a business student thing, people who want to be CEOs and stuff like that. I was way too intimidated to ever consider doing that.” These thoughts combined with Laura identifying more as an introvert, made networking a hard concept to unpack. Laura’s introverted social battery is not uncommon. With a quick Google search, one can easily find handfuls of online guides that are dedicated to supplying introverts with tips and tricks when it comes to networking. To add to the intimidation, networking isn’t just an opportunity to meet other industry professionals— for some people, it can also be a tool to negotiate their salary growth over time or help them change career paths. Talk about pressure!

But Laura’s vision of networking started to change once she started working at the Career Centre. To her surprise, she was introduced to more casual, “informal” methods of networking. What exactly does that look like?

“Casual networking” 

“You can network in your own life,” Laura explains. “Chatting with your friends about the different types of jobs that they have and how they got their jobs.” Sounds easier than the stereotypical imagery of schmoozing with corporate supervisors, doesn’t it? 

From asking about job interviews to chatting about work experiences, the natural flow of conversation manifested into common networking topics for Laura and her colleagues. She hadn’t realized it, but simply talking to her friends and colleagues about their career experiences were valid forms of networking, even if they weren’t at a large-scale networking event. And even better— it was networking within her comfort zone. 

Laura’s networking experience

Another key feature of networking involves staying in touch with your connections. “Even if it’s just once a year or maybe [reaching out] through LinkedIn, it might come in handy down the road.”  Laura, who is currently studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, working towards her PhD in Indo-European studies, had used her professor’s connections to help with her academic applications. 

During both her undergrad and her early years as a masters student at the University of Alberta, Laura attended more online conferences to aid her graduate school applications. She decided to stay after the end of a particular panel and listened in on the casual discussion that lingered between the panelists. Eventually, she was the only audience member left as she listened to the panelists converse about their work.

A few months prior to this panel, Laura had reached out to a professor and met with him to discuss work opportunities. That same professor happened to be a presenter at that panel, recognized Laura’s name and asked her to formally introduce herself to the other panelists. 

“It was definitely valuable to just have that professor know my name and recognize my face,” Laura recalled. “You never know whether [a] connection will come in handy down the road.”

Everyone has a story

So, we now know that networking doesn’t always have to look like formal conversations over champagne. Still nervous about the idea? Laura has one last piece of advice:

“They’re going to ask you questions about yourself. Don’t be afraid of that. You have a really interesting story and networking can be just learning what’s out there. It doesn’t have to be to find a job.”

At the end of the day, networking boils down to a conversation filled with stories. Although those nervous butterflies might not immediately disappear, the good news is that the networking process gets easier as you get used to it.