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  I have spoken on college campuses for many years now.  The thought of networking was a foreign concept to students in the past.  Oh, and I am not talking about being on Facebook. That is socializing, not really networking in a business sense.

 

I think when students thought of networking they thought “UGH, I rather stick a fork in my eye!”

 

I think attitudes are changing now because students see the impact of the recession in their households and know they need a lot of tools to successfully enter the job market.

 

So here are some of my networking tips for college students who hate to network.

 

First, hope is not a plan.  When my kids were growing up I used to have a saying on my fridge.  “Hope is Not a Plan.”  I hope I get into that class, I hope I pass, I hope I graduate etc.  You need a plan of action to achieve your academic goals and it is the same with networking.  You should set a strategy for what you want to achieve and who you need to meet to get you there. 

 

You need to intensively focus your activities on getting a job. That’s key today. You need to use all of the tools available to you. You don’t have much of a choice. That means attending events where there are lots of adults versus student networking groups.  Hey, don’t get me wrong,  I think being involved with PRSA student chapters is great but the jobs and internships are at the mainstream PRSA and IABC Chapters.

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