Beginners Guide to Building your Network
Learn how to utilize social media, create your elevator pitch, be active on campus, approach others professionally but with confidence!
We all have aspirations and goals that have to start somewhere. Whether that be securing an internship or having the opportunity to meet with an admired role model, building your network is a great way to get your foot in the door. Below we have outlined the Beginners Guide to Building your Network to help you do just that.
Utilize Social Media
Today we live in a world of technology that only continues to advance. Social media is a great tool to utilize and build your network. A platform such as Linkedin offers vast opportunities and room for connections. By dedicating just 5 to 10 minutes a day making new connections on Linkedin and interacting with your feed you are sure to expand your network!
Another great way to utilize social media for networking is putting yourself out. It is easy to mindlessly scroll on your favorite platform, but remember in business time is money! Be mindful of how you spend your time online, there are people to learn from and opportunities everywhere. Try to use social media as a way to form deeper connections by joining groups of interest to you or working on building your own personal brand.
Create Your Elevator Pitch
First impressions are crucial to valuable connections. One of the best ways to ensure you make a good first impression among professionals is by having your elevator pitch prepared and practiced.
An elevator pitch sums up who you are, what you are looking for, and what you have to offer in a short and simple way. It’s called an elevator pitch because the idea is you could deliver it to someone in the amount of time you’d spend on an elevator.
Your elevator pitch should not only represent you, but should also create an opening for conversation so that you can really solidify the connection you’ve just built.
Be Active On Campus
WVU has over five hundred student organizations to join. These range from major-related clubs to groups based on shared interests, and if you cannot find the club you are looking for you can even start your own. Joining a student organization is a great way to make friends, develop leadership skills, and set aside time to participate in something that you enjoy doing. The easiest way to look into joining a club is to visit https://wvuengage.wvu.edu/. There you can browse through all of the wonderful clubs WVU has to offer. Another great way to learn about clubs is by attending a student organization fair which is typically held at the beginning of the Fall semester.
Approach Professionally and with Confidence
If you are wanting to build your network, you want to look and feel the part. You want to prepare yourself by feeling confident and taking every skill and experience you have to the table. Be excited about it, you should be proud of yourself! Greet everyone with a big smile and be eager to talk to new people, they can help direct your future.
Being confident mentally is essential, but you always want to dress the part too! Most events tell you the dress code - whether it be business professional, business casual, or just casual, make sure you dress accordingly. I know getting all dressed up makes me feel more confident inside and outside!