By: Ellie Kulberg
As college students, we gravitate toward building connections with our peers, mentors, and professors. However, networking with professionals is key to a successful future. Networking with industry experts will open the door to new opportunities and help you manage your career path. Here are 4 tips on how to expand your professional network as a college student.
Remember, connecting with industry professionals will not be as effective if you do not maintain these relationships. It is important to reach out to your connections regularly, rather than reaching out solely when a need arises.
Tip #1: Utilize Alumni Networks
Alumni are a great source to leverage within your professional network. Alumni are often willing to help college students as they share a common background, it is a way for them to give back and tends to leave personal satisfaction. Reaching out to Alumni is a great first step to expanding your professional network as it touches on a sense of belonging. Utilizing the connections within your university’s community can provide valuable advice, career connections, and mentorship, and enhance your employability and professional growth. For Ohio State students, AlumniFire is a free tool that makes it easy to connect with alumni.
Tip #2: Reach out for Informational Interviews
Another great way to expand your professional network outside of your University’s alumni is by simply reaching out to professionals for informational interviews. Putting yourself out there and reaching out to professionals in your desired career field will not only help to solidify your interests but put you in a position to gain valuable insights and potentially uncover job opportunities down the line.
Tip #3: Take Advantage of Social Media (LinkedIn)
A great way to contact your University’s alumni or reach out for informational interviews is through social media, especially LinkedIn. This platform allows you to connect with industry leaders and potential employers. I recommend being active on this app by engaging with field-specific content, following major contributors, and sharing your accomplishments and experience. Actively engaging with this source will help you to expand your network, reach new opportunities, and collaborate with others.
LinkedIn allows you to easily search for professionals filtered based on their field, company, and location. This platform allows users the opportunity to connect with others and even message them. LinkedIn is an accessible, reliable, and beneficial form of social media to use as a future professional.
Tip #4: Attend Networking Events
Face-to-face networking is equally as important as utilizing social media. As a college student, there are many networking events that one can attend. Making time to attend these events is important as it allows you to have more personal interaction, separate yourself from other students, and gain exposure to professional opportunities. To get started, consider joining Ohio State PRSSA at its 2025 East Central District Conference.