I always hear people say that connections mean everything, which automatically used to lead me to believe that I am out of luck because I like to stay in my shell and avoid people. But during my college career, I’ve learned that you can make connections in the most unexpected places.

Start with your professors! If you’re not comfortable approaching them during office hours, approach them slowly! Start by coming to class a few minutes early or staying after class a few minutes late. Make an effort to seem interested in class and relate what you’re learning back to your experiences. This practice is what can make for an easy conversation starter. Professors know your learning ability, your learning style, and how much you are capable of doing. They’re the perfect people to ask for recommendations and references, but you want to make sure that they know you on a personal level so they can make your recommendation or reference specific and tailored to who you are and things you do outside of the classroom.

I presented a workshop a few weeks ago, and one of the students in the workshop told me she would never have thought about putting internship experience on her resume because it was unpaid. Internships should most definitely be on your resume, as they are valuable experiences! They’re great opportunities to gain experience in the real world and make connections with people specifically in your field. Your supervisors at an internship can offer an opinion on how you work in a workplace setting, not just an educational one.

Say you finish an internship in the summer and want to ask for a recommendation for an internship the following summer. There’s a large gap between that time, so make sure you continue to reach out to your supervisors! Shoot them a quick email every few months with something that reminded you of them, or asking for an update on a project you were helping out with while you were there, or just give them an update on what you’re doing!

LinkedIn is also a popular place to network. For me, I always feel a little weird using LinkedIn, just because I don’t  know these people. If you feel the same, my suggestion is to start by adding people you know that are your own age. People you went to high school or college with, or completed an internship with. Then move on to your direct supervisors and bosses. From those connections, you can find other people in your field that you might be interested in talking with.

I also find LinkedIn helpful because I can broaden my perspective of the professions offered in my field. I can look at a profile, see a job that person has held, and think “wow I never thought I could do that as a career.” For more information about LinkedIn, click here.

If you want to learn more about networking, on Wednesday, April 5, from 12PM-1PM in Commons 331, the Career Center is  hosting a “Build your Professional Network” Panel for students interested in how to get their  foot in the door.