Your guide to online networking for a promising career

Whether you are an international student studying online or on campus, networking will be a vital part of your student experience. Networking allows you to connect with people in your field who have similar interests, talents, connections, and experiences to you. If you can establish a strong professional network early in your career, it will come in helpful when you are hunting for work.

While in-person networking may appear to be limited in the current environment, there is no need to be concerned. You may still use your abilities and connect with people all over the world via the internet.

Tips for Student Networking While Studying Abroad

Tips for effectively networking while studying online

It is understandable if you are hesitant to network with your peer group and professors during the current trend of online study. Use these simple networking tactics to propel your career forward:

1. Sign up for virtual events

Enroll in online classes, seminars, and town hall meetings to meet new people conveniently. You might also look for research volunteer opportunities at your university or in your community to obtain work experience and meet new people.

2. Establish your professional network online

Introduce yourself to your students and faculty via e-mail or social media to begin creating your network. Meetings and real-time talks can be facilitated using free video conferencing tools such as Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype.

You can also connect with alumni from your university via social media channels and benefit from their experiences. They might also be able to assist you in getting started in your career.

3. Build your online presence 

To create your online presence, create a profile on professional networking sites like LinkedIn. This will help you become visible to the professional world and gives a great opportunity to connect with potential employers. 

Making an online portfolio highlighting your expertise, experience and talent is a good idea. You can share this on your networking platforms online to present your work

4. Join relevant online communities

There are numerous paid and free online communities, such as Reddit forums and GitHub, that can keep you up to date on the newest developments in your field and link you with like-minded individuals. Use these to create connections in your field of interest.

5. Participate in online classrooms forums 

Most online learning institutes also maintain chat rooms or web forums for particular assignments or projects. Use this opportunity to interact with your peers. Share your thoughts and start a conversation. This will assist you in developing your own voice and personality among your classmates. Remember, if an assignment requires a group discussion, be strategic in how you present your ideas. The goal should be to get noticed, not to outwit others.

These suggestions may appear to be simple, but trust us when we say that if you follow them consistently, you will build a strong professional network before you even graduate.