Hello friends!
You’ve probably heard of the phrase, “your network is your net worth.” When you know people who understand your background and can vouch for you, opportunities can come to you that likely wouldn’t have happened otherwise. This can help you accelerate your career, enhance your knowledge, and much more.
But how do you actually “network”?
No one formally teaches you this stuff in school or university. My initial impression of networking when I got to college was dressing up in a suit, exchanging resumes, and making awkward small talk. But there is so much more than that.
My network has helped me:
Land an internship at Google (which later turned into my first full-time role)
Land a book deal (!!)
Find new clients for my business
Create lifelong friends
…and much more!
For many people, networking can feel transactional and uncomfortable. But the truth is, you’re already networking without you even knowing it. Here are a couple of ways you can intentionally curate your network to position yourself for opportunities and self development!
#1: Join organizations that align with your interests 👥
Student clubs, community groups, or even online communities (like Slack groups or LinkedIn groups) are great ways to meet like-minded people. When you’re showing up consistently, you can meet new people and nurture those relationships over time.
If you’re in college, a great way to meet new friends and mentors is by joining student clubs. When I was in college, I joined several business clubs (that aligned with my career interests). I’ve met so many great people in a tight-knit setting as well as mentors that were 1 to 2 years older who were able to guide me on job recruiting and course advice!
#2: Genuinely get to know people 👯♀️
Ask people about their journey, their challenges, and their goals (and share yours too!) without expecting anything in return. Think of it as getting to know a friend. People like to help their friends!
A common “what not to do” is when someone cold-messages you on LinkedIn and immediately asks for a job referral. It doesn’t feel genuine, and chances are, you'd be more willing to help someone if they’d taken the time to build some rapport first.
#3: Share your wins publicly 📣
When you share your progress, like a new project, job update, or personal milestone, you stay top of mind. People remember what you're working on, and often refer you for opportunities simply because they saw your post or heard your story.
I do this through my social media (Instagram & TikTok) as well as my LinkedIn — free to connect with me there! I post about my job and promotion updates, when I do speaking events, and value-driven content. It reminds people what you’re working on and shows them how they can support or connect with your journey.
Another thing you could consider: when you meet someone IRL, add them on at least one social media. Now, the next time you post something, they’re likely to remember you and your past convo, and will be tuned in to what you’re sharing.
#4: Be the connector 🤝
One of the fastest ways to build goodwill is by introducing people who could benefit from knowing each other. If you hear someone say, “I’m trying to break into X” and you know someone already in that space, make the intro. It costs you nothing, but builds trust and reciprocity.
By doing these things, you’ll start building an intentional network, one that attracts new opportunities and genuine connection. Let me know if there are others you’d add!
—Lillian
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These networking tips are super helpful! Great post!!