For college students, networking is more than just finding a job. It is an opportunity to explore career paths, gain industry insights, build meaningful professional relationships, and create opportunities for future success. It relies on genuine interactions, mutual support and long-term relationships, rather than short-term gains or immediate favors.
You might be hesitant about networking because it can feel intimidating or awkward. But a fear of rejection or lack of confidence shouldn’t stop you from making professional connections. Reconsider some of the false assumptions about networking.
Set your goals
Before reaching out to professionals, take a moment to think about why you want to connect. Having a clear goal will help you feel more confident, ask better questions, and make the conversation more meaningful. Students connect with professionals for many reasons, including:
Informational interviews
To explore potential careers, arrange informal chats with professionals in a field or occupation that interests you. Ask about:
- Career paths and background
- Roles and responsibilities
- Necessary skills and education
Industry Connections
Meet with professionals to get their observations and advice on how to break into and navigate the industry. Discuss:
- Preferred experience
- Application insights
- Trends or changes in the field
Company Knowledge
Receive honest insights about daily work life, challenges, and company culture that you cannot find on a public website. Inquire about:
- Work environment and culture
- Career advancement
- Values and mission
Employment Opportunities
Pursue recruitment advice, sourcing job and internship leads, and negotiation strategies. Discuss:
- Entry-level careers and hidden job openings
- The interview process
- Benefits, compensation, perks
Getting Started
Polish your resume
Creating or updating your resume ensures you are instantly ready when a contact asks for it. It captures fresh achievements while they are clear in your mind, aligns your spoken pitch with written proof, and allows mentors or referrals to hand a current, accurate document to hiring managers.
Make sure your resume is accurate, updated and highlights your strengths, skills, and achievements. You can stop by the Career Center for a resume review weekdays between 9:00a.m. and 4:00 p.m. when classes are in session.
Develop an Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is simply a professional introduction that can preface a question or request. It’s a quick overview of your skills, background, and career goals commonly used at career fairs, recruitment events, and job interviews.
We encourage students to prepare on so that you can explain your background and interests in a simple, straightforward way. The elevator pitch prepares you for surprise meetings or chance encounters and builds your confidence when asked, “Tell me about yourself.”
Create your pitch
- Develop 3-5 powerful phrases that highlight your unique talents, skills and strengths.
- Identify accomplishments or contributions
- Include your career goal or something you aspire to be
- Finish with the information or question you wish to ask!
Examples
I’m a sophomore at Mizzou committed to community service and plan to use my motivation and resourcefulness to coach children in sports and healthy living. Given your academic background and professional experience, I was hoping we could find a time to briefly connect to discuss wellness career options.
I’m an Economics major at Mizzou seeking a summer internship where I can use my data analysis and statistical skills. I admire your organization’s dedication to economic policy which closely aligns with my goals to produce meaningful research that improves the lives of others. I’d love to learn more about your work and explore how I could contribute to your team.
Prepare Good Questions
Having a list of smart, purposeful questions ready is your key to a successful networking conversation. Before diving into them, start with friendly small talk to build rapport and break the ice. Next, clearly state the goal of your conversation to smoothly shift from casual chat to professional topics. This preparation can turn an awkward conversation into a valuable exchange, showing professionals that you respect their time and truly value their expertise.
- Could you describe a typical day in your job?
- What kinds of decisions do you make?
- What do the responsibilities in your role entail?
- Are there busy or slow times in your position or is the work steady?
- Why do you find this work interesting? What things do you find difficult?
- What things did you do before you entered this occupation?
- What are other jobs you can have with the same background?
- What work-related values are strongest for this type of work?
- If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same path or would you change something?
- Are there courses that you found valuable to prepare for this role or are there classes you would recommend I take?
- How did you learn about this particular position/organization.
- What sort of changes are occurring in this field?
- How does a person advance their career?
- How would you recommend that a person enter this occupation/field.
- What’s a typical career path for someone in this industry?
- What are the key qualifications for success in this field?
- What would be your next steps to progress in your career?
- How is AI and technology evolving the industry?
- How is the economy affecting this industry?
- How rapidly is this field growing?
- Do you know of others whom I might talk to who have similar jobs?
- Do you have other contacts doing similar work or who use similar skills?
- Which professional journals and organizations would help me learn more about this field?
- How would you describe the working environment?
- What do you like the most about this company?
- Is there a basic philosophy of the company or department?
- Are you optimistic about the organization’s future?
- What can you tell be about the organization’s culture?
- What does the company do to contribute to employees’ professional development?
- What’s the average length of time for an employee to stay in a position? Are there incentives to stay?
- What technology does the company use for internal communications (email, Slack, Teams, etc.)
- How are positions typically advertised in this field/company?
- What’s the best way to find employment in this field?
- What resources would you recommend as I search for a job/internship in this field?
- What are estimated salary ranges for entry-level positions?
- My strongest skills are ____________. Where would they be most valued in this field? How would fit within this organization?
- (If comfortable/appropriate) Would you mind taking a look at my resume?
- How would you assess my experience and qualifications for entering this field?
- With the information I’ve provided on my academic background and experience, what other jobs would you suggest I research further?
- Do you have recommendations or advice ahead of submitting my application/scheduling my first interview?
Identify & connect with contacts
Start by listing the contacts you already know, then expand your network one conversation at a time. Focus on learning, asking thoughtful questions, and building genuine relationships instead of just collecting names.
When reaching out to others, remember to:
- Build rapport by reaching out to mutual contacts and ask about their career stories.
- Seek advice rather than a job. Conversations should focus on sharing information and insights.
- Give them an idea of your interests, skills and career goals. Make it easy for them to make connections for you.
- Share your resume so they can offer job search advice.
LinkedIn is the most widely used professional networking platform. Start by creating a robust profile and making new connections.
- Join relevant groups: Join Mizzou Alumni and other relevant groups in your field/industry. You can participate in discussions and re-post their content to highlight your career interests and to get make more connections with industry professionals.
- Connect with alumni: Open the University of Missouri -Columbia page and start searching through alumni based on what they studied, where they live, what they do, and where they work. This is a great way to identify leads for informational interviews or entry points for companies of interest.
- Build your connections: Reach out to friends, family and other Mizzou students. Career advice and job leads can come from anyone in your network!
- Follow companies and industry leaders: You are more likely to get noticed by recruiters, receive alerts about new job and internship vacancies, and stay current on industry news and trends. You’ll also be able to learn more about company culture and workplace values.
Pro Tip: Stay active! LinkedIn enables you to create a strong, professional brand to help you achieve your networking and career goals.
Friends and family
Your inner circle is the foundation for your professional network! Because they are highly accessible, easy to talk to, and genuinely invested in your success, they can be the best pace to start. Remember that your circle spans relatives, neighbors, previous teachers, coworkers, supervisors, as well as acquaintances.
Brainstorming: Tap into insights from people who know you best to pinpoint your natural strengths and explore specialized career paths you might have overlooked.
Feedback: Ask your close circle to safely practice mock interviews and polish your resumes and cover letters, engaging individuals with related industry backgrounds for the sharpest advice.
Referrals: Use your personal contacts to instantly connect with active industry insiders, find hidden job leads, and bypass the huge application pile through trusted character endorsements.
Encouragement: Lean on your inner circle for critical motivation and validation to maintain your confidence when the internship or job hunt gets tough.
Pro Tip: Don’t make assumptions. Your uncle, hair stylist, or coach may have the connection you are looking for!
Mizzou alumni
Tigers are fiercely loyal and eager to help students and recent graduates in their career journeys. In addition to making connections on LinkedIn, there are other ways to make meaningful connections with our far-reaching community.
- MU Alumni Association (MUAA): MUAA is 300,000 members strong and students can make connections at on-campus student events and regional chapter events.
- True Tiger Network: This is the the official student chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association and it offers unique activites and career events for members.
- Campus/Departments events: Academic departments and student support offices frequently host alumni panels, guest seminars, and networking events. Keep an eye out for School/College news and announcements from your department.
Pro Tip: Stay engaged! The Mizzou campus offers hundreds of events and recruitment activities that include alumni and career professionals. Don’t miss out! Check Handshake and MU Engage.
Handshake
Handshake is much more than a jobs board. There are many features that help broaden your connections. Start by making your profile visible to the “Community” so peers, alumni, and recruiters can find you.
- Alumni: You can identify alumni by clicking on “People” on your menu navigation and filter by school name another fields like grad year, employer, skill, and degree to zero in on potential contacts to message.
- Peers: In the “People” section you can also identify other students at Mizzou and other institutions to message. This is very helpful if you want to talk with someone who was employed at a company you plan to apply to.
- Events: Each year, companies host hundreds of virtual networking and recruitment events, an easy way to learn about potential employers and connect with HR recruiters.
- Employers: Follow organizations to receive immediate alerts about their upcoming events and new job postings.
- Career Fairs: You can RSVP for campus career fairs where you can connect with companies actively recruiting for jobs and internships. You can research which companies are coming and the positons they have available.
Pro Tip: Keep your resume and Handshake profile up-to-date to maximize the power of Handshake’s networking tools.
Professional organizations
Professional associations are valuable because they bring together professionals, industry resources, and career opportunities in one place, making it easier to learn about a field, build connections, and discover internships or jobs.
- Student memberships: Consider becoming a member. These free or low-cost memberships are an entry point to access hundreds of professionals across the country.
- Career guidance: Many groups have websites that include occupational information, career advice, and sometimes active job boards.
- Events: Professioanl associations often sponsor regional and national conferences and social events, ripe for networking. They also host webinars and educational events to build your industry knowledge.
Pro Tip: Most professional associations are on LinkedIn – search and join those groups!
Faculty and staff
With more than 15,000 faculty and staff members at Mizzou, you are surrounded by a built-in pool of professioanl connections.
Industry contacts: Many faculty members have strong industry and research ties as well as key relationships with alumni. They can bridge the gap between you and the job market by providing direct introductions at industry conferences, departmental events, or through professional platforms like LinkedIn.
Recommendations: Faculty and staff can serve as references and write letters of recommendations for you, a critical component of the job search. Building genuine relationships ensures you have advocates who can endorse your abilities and make strong referrals.
Coursework: Many instructors intentionally build career readiness and real-world networking assignments directly into their classes. Treat these assignments as active opportunities to sharpen your professional skills and expand your network, rather than just tasks for a grade.
Advisement: Faculty and staff offer a wealth of insights into your specific field. They can help you map out potential career paths, industry trends, and share firsthand examples of what past graduates with your major have gone on to achieve.
Pro Tip: Respect their time and expertise – make use of office hours, appointments, and making requests in advance.
Sample communications
Knowing what to say is half the battle. Here, you’ll find a conversation structure and tips for avoiding common pitfalls so your networking efforts feel natural and productive.
LinkedIn invite
Hi [Name], we share a mutual connection through [Contact Name]. I’m currently exploring internship opportunities in [industry] and would love to connect and learn more about your experience and insights into the field. I appreciate your consideration!
Email Outreach
Subject: Mizzou Tiger Interested in Your [Organization/Industry]
I’m a current student at Mizzou and I came across your profile while researching careers at [Organization/Industry]. As a fellow Tiger, I wanted to reach out and introduce myself.
I’m interested in learning more about your career path, your experience at [Company], and any advice you might have for a Mizzou student exploring opportunities in the field. If you have 15-20 minutes available in the coming weeks, I’d be grateful for the chance to connect over coffee, a phone call, or a virtual chat.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope we are able to connect the near future.
Phone call/voicemail
Hi [Name], my name is Truman, and I’m a student at the University of Missouri. I’m exploring career options for psychology majors and came across your background in [field/company].
I’d love the opportunity to learn more about your career path and gain some insight into the industry through a brief informational interview.
If you’re available for a 20-minute conversation, please call or email me at [phone number] or [email address]. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day!
In Person
Hi, I’m Amanda. I’m studying psychology at Mizzou and hope to become a psychiatrist someday. It’s nice to meet you. (Pause) I’m currently looking for opportunities to gain clinical experience and better understand different roles in mental health care.
I’d love to hear more about your research and work and the experiences that helped you decide to pursue your field.
Networking Follow-Up
First contact
For students who are new to networking, following up is an important way to maintain relationships and show appreciation. After an informational interview, career conversation, or networking event, send a thank-you message within 24 to 48 hours. Reach out wile the conversation is still fresh and make ir personal by naming a specific topic you discussed.
Frequency
Beyond that, the frequency of follow-up depends on the relationship and your future needs. If someone invested significant time in helping you or may be a valuable contact as you explore internships or jobs, consider checking in every few months with a brief update or question. If the interaction was more limited, an occasional update or comment to a LinkedIn post is enough. Focus on building genuine connections rather than reaching out only when you need something.
No response?
Follow up once after about a week. Keep your message positive, brief, and appreciative of their time. You can also try a different communication method, such as LinkedIn, email, or Teams. If you haven’t received a response after three attempts, it’s best to move on and focus on other networking contacts. Don’t take a lack of response personally. People are busy, messages get overlooked, and even well-intentioned professionals may forget to reply.
Reframing Networking
You might be hesitant about networking because it can feel intimidating, awkward, or forced. Fear of rejection, lack of confidence, and uncertainty about what to say often prevent students from making professional connections, even though networking is an important part of career development. Reconsider some of these assumptions:
- Myth: You have to be an extrovert. Networking isn’t about being the most outgoing person in the room. It’s about showing curiosity, asking thoughtful questions, and listening. Plus, networking happens online and in writing just as often as it does in person.
- Myth: It’s awkward and forced. Networking doesn’t have to feel unnatural. Prepare questions, show genuine interest, and focus on having a real conversation rather than trying to impress someone.
- Myth: It’s one-sided and only asking for favors. You will eventually get to help others in the near future just like professionals once did.
- Myth: It’s only for job seekers. Networking is valuable at every stage of your career. It’s a powerful way to explore careers, gain industry knowledge, seek advice, and build meaningful professional relationships.
- Myth: I don’t know important, high-level people. Networking can happen in everyday moments with everyday people. Peers, family members, professors, staff, and alumni can offer meaningful guidance and valuable contacts to help you grow professionally.
Remember, networking is a skill that gets easier with practice. You don’t need to be an expert. Being curious, appreciative, and authentic goes a long way in building meaningful professional relationships.
