How to Succeed in Virtual Networking

As a college junior, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time stressing over internships, my resume, and most of all: networking. Going into my spring semester last year, I had virtually no experience with networking – something I vowed to change. 

Unfortunately, the pandemic hit and we were all sent home, stuck with good old Zoom to communicate with anyone that wasn’t family. Like any normal person, I totally panicked. How are you supposed to establish relationships with people if you can’t actually meet them? Once I finally took a second to stop freaking out, I realized that this may be a great opportunity to expand my network.

Instead of giving up on networking, here are seven ways to take advantage of what (virtual) networking has to offer. 

Use LinkedIn! 

I can’t stress how useful LinkedIn is. I’m sure everyone’s heard the same speech from their advisors or professors, but it’s true. Even if you don’t have a specific person in mind, type in keywords about your interests or skills. Follow organizations you’d like to work for, and join groups that inspire you. It’s harder to meet people in person these days, especially those working in the professional world. LinkedIn is a great way to find these people instead. 

Side note: You don’t need to have 1000 connections in order to be doing it “the right way.”

Use your professors as resources. 

Talking about class assignments doesn’t have to be the only time you communicate with your professor. Especially if the class they’re teaching has something to do with your future career, reach out to them during office hours to talk about your future and ask for advice. 

More often than not, professors want to help you beyond the classroom. They may even have some good contacts to hook you up with too!  

Reach out to people who currently have your dream job. Don’t be intimidated by their fame or success. 

Something I realized during quarantine is that people love to talk about what they do, and share their experiences with people who are interested. Don’t be afraid to message someone on LinkedIn – or even shoot them an email – regardless of who they are. 

Sure, some won’t answer, but some will. In my experience, those who answer turn out to be great contacts who are more than happy to answer your questions, give you advice, and even introduce you to other people in the field. 

Things that I include in my initial email are a one-sentence bio about myself, how I found them, why I’m interested in their job/talking to them, and if they would be willing to set aside time to schedule a Zoom or phone call with me. A majority of the people I’ve been able to network with have resulted from me taking the initiative and messaging them first. 

Take notes when you talk to people. 

This may seem like a weird thing to do when having a conversation with someone. However, when networking with people, you’re trying to soak up as much information as possible – and you don’t want to forget anything. 

Taking notes allows you to get all the key points down without having to rely solely on your memory later on. It may also impress the person who you’re talking to, because it shows you’re taking things seriously and care about what they have to say. 

Follow up and keep updating people in your network.

Don’t just have one conversation with someone and never talk to them again. A huge part of networking is maintaining your relationships with people. Send those in your network a check-in email every few months, or try to schedule a call to catch up with them. 

Take advantage of life being pretty much virtual.  

Going through life online is obviously a pain, but it may work in your favor when it comes to networking. Without traveling or commuting to the office, people have a lot more free time. More free time means more availability to network, which means a golden opportunity to talk to people you may not typically have the chance to meet with. 

Most importantly: RELAX. 

Everyone is in the same boat right now. You don’t need to have a massive network or be meeting with people 24/7. Start off by reaching out to a few people, and establishing a relationship with them. 

The more experience you get with networking, the more comfortable you will feel. Remember that while networking is important, there’s no reason for it to take over your life. You have plenty of time – you got this! 

• career advice
• networking