How to Network When You’re Not in Your 20s: Tips for Building Connections as a Nontraditional Student

What does it mean to network?  How should you be networking?  What steps do I need to take to build a professional network? These types of questions are at the top of mind when thinking about networking and how it can be used to build connections as a nontraditional student. Below are tips and strategies for building a professional network.

Have a strong presence on LinkedIn

Building up your LinkedIn profile is the first step.  You want to make sure your profile is as strong as possible and details your history and background to the fullest. LinkedIn allows you to connect with other professionals in your field or area of study. This can and should include alumni from your school or university.  

There are so many benefits to utilizing LinkedIn such as making connections with others, learning about others' skills and roles, and searching for jobs. When using LinkedIn, you can message other connections and build your professional network to increase the likelihood of landing your next career.  

Make sure to stay in contact with former alumni.

Besides using LinkedIn as mentioned above, it’s important to remain in contact with your fellow peers with whom you graduated.  It’s a safe assumption to say that your fellow alumni are in the same boat as you are when it comes to networking and searching for their careers. You can learn a lot from your alumni, such as gaining specific insights and potential job leads in your area.  You can learn about each other’s skills, knowledge, and expertise as to what is expected in certain roles.

Stay connected with professors and staff.

Your professors are an excellent resource and network. Stay as connected as possible with these individuals as they have the knowledge and expertise in your field of study.  Professors are always willing to help and connect with current and former students.  

Make sure to set up appointments with them to ask the specific questions you have and to discuss any employment or internship-related items.  Professors do a lot of research, so they are fully capable of providing you with the best possible advice on your career path.  

Attend career fairs or industry-specific events.

To help grow your professional network, be sure you are getting your name and face in front of others. By participating in career fairs, workshops, or networking events, you are meeting professionals who work in your desired field.  At these types of events, so much can be learned about who you are as a person, and what you need to do or improve upon to get into the field.  Making connections and passing out business cards and resumes can help tremendously in the job search.  Remember, attending industry events brings people together for a common goal, networking and employment.

Seek out informational interviews

An excellent way to learn more about your field and the opportunities within is to complete an informational interview. You can do this by reaching out to individuals in your network or other professionals who are already in the field.  This is a time for you to learn more about the professional, their career path, and what you need to do to get there. Simply put, this is an interview-style meeting where you would have questions prepared for them to gain a better understanding of their career path. A great deal of information is learned in this type of interview setting.  

Make time to follow up with your network and connections

Be sure to check in periodically with your network as maintaining that communication is important. When utilizing your network to help with employment needs, it’s only right to keep them updated when you find something.  You never know when you may need your professional network so maintaining the connection and communication is extremely important.

Building a professional network is critical to job search success. You need to stay committed to building a network and utilizing the services offered.  There are many ways to network, however, sometimes you have to go out of your comfort zone. Therefore, make sure you are staying in contact with your alumni, professors, and other networking events as these can all lead to greater outcomes for you.   

Matt Sedlar is a senior career development coach at Herzing University for the past thirteen years.   He has knowledge and expertise in helping students gain the necessary skills to find meaningful employment.