Networking 201: Ultimate How-To Guide for Students to Start Networking
By Anne Stamer, Senior Career Coach, College Flight Path
In our recent blog, Networking 101: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?, we explored the basics of networking and its key benefits. This month, we are diving into practical, step-by-step strategies to help you start building meaningful connections with confidence.
Define Your Networking Goals
Before reaching out to anyone, get clear on why you want to network. Ask yourself:
What do I hope to learn or gain?
What industries or roles am I curious about?
Am I looking for a mentor, internship advice, or career exploration?
Knowing your goals will help you make genuine connections and ask more meaningful questions.
Create a Professional Online Presence
If someone looks you up, what will they see? Building a clean, professional image online helps you stand out—and shows that you are serious.
LinkedIn: Set up a profile with a clear photo, headline (e.g., “High School Junior Interested in Neuroscience”), and a short summary about your interests.
Email: Use a professional email (e.g., john.smith@gmail.com).
Optional: A personal website or portfolio, especially if you're into coding, writing, design, or photography.
Find the Right People to Connect With
Look for individuals who can share their insights with you—these might include:
Teachers, professors, and guidance counselors
Alumni from your school or university
Professionals in your field of interest
Guest speakers from webinars or school events
Friends of family, family of friends—you’d be surprised who’s in your extended network.
Leverage Your Existing Network
Start with People You Know: Reach out to family, friends, teachers, and alumni. Let them know about your career interests and ask if they can introduce you to relevant contacts.
Attend School Events: Participate in career fairs, workshops, and seminars organized by your school. These events are great opportunities to meet professionals and peers.
Attend Networking Events
Find Events: Look for industry conferences, seminars, and meetups. Websites like Eventbrite and Meetup can help you find events in your area. Events like One Million Cups is a free weekly event where entrepreneurs meet and pitch ideas
Prepare Your Elevator Pitch: Have a brief, engaging introduction ready that summarizes who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for.
Bring Business Cards: If possible, have business cards (printed or digital format) with your contact information to hand out. You can use Canva, Moo, and Dot to create a custom card.
Engage in Informational Interviews
Identify Potential Contacts: Use LinkedIn or your school’s alumni network to find professionals in your field of interest. Best practice is to include a personalized note to ensure that you have a reference point of why they should connect with you.
Request a Meeting: Politely ask for a short meeting to learn more about their career path and industry insights. Be respectful of their time.
Prepare Questions: Have a list of questions ready to make the most of the conversation. Focus on their experiences, advice, and industry trends.
Follow Up
Send Thank-You Notes: After meeting someone, send a thank-you email or message expressing your appreciation and interest in staying in touch.
Stay Connected: Keep in touch with your contacts by sharing relevant articles, updates, or simply checking in periodically.
Join Professional Organizations
Membership Benefits: Many professional organizations offer student memberships at a reduced rate. These memberships can provide access to exclusive events, resources, and a network of professionals.
Participate Actively: Attend meetings, volunteer for committees, and contribute to discussions. Active participation can help you stand out and build stronger connections.
Be Persistent and Patient
Consistency is Key: Networking is an ongoing process. Regularly attend events, reach out to new contacts, and maintain your existing relationships.
Be Patient: Building a strong network takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep putting in the effort, and opportunities will come.
How a Career Coach Can Help You Network Smarter as a Student
Career coaches play a powerful role in helping students navigate their futures with clarity and confidence. From academic support to career planning, they provide a strong foundation for long-term success. Career coaches:
Provide tailored, one-on-one guidance based on a student’s unique strengths, interests, and long-term goals. 54% of students who work with coaches feel more prepared for the workforce.
Develop a deeper understanding of their values, passions, and skillsets. With that self-awareness, students are better equipped to choose the right colleges, majors, extracurriculars, and internship opportunities. 70% of students who work with career coaches report improved clarity in their career goals.
Motivate students to set clear goals and manage their time effectively, leading to stronger academic habits. In fact, 61% of students say coaching has helped them improve their academic performance.
Ease student’s transition by offering real-world advice on resumes, interviews, and networking. More than half of students who work with a coach feel more prepared for the workforce.
College Flight Path is excited to let you know that we have launched our career coaching services to support you.
Our Career Coaching Can Help With:
Building your Network and confidence-building
Resume and cover letter optimization for Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Job search strategies, Career goal setting and professional development
LinkedIn Optimization & URL customization
Interview preparation & Salary Negotiation
Need help upleveling your networking strategies, fill out our contact form to get started to have access to a 15 minute discovery call.
Copyright © 2025 College Flight Path. All Rights Reserved.
Reference
Education-to-Workforce Indicator Framework. (2025). Access to College and Career Advising. Retrieved from https://educationtoworkforce.org
REA PathFinder Coaching. (2025). Expert Career and Academic Guidance for Students and Young Adults. Retrieved from https://www.reacareers.com/pathfinder
