How to network as an international student

Studying abroad is not only a great chance to pursue your academic studies, but an opportunity to build a network of diverse contacts and mentors to help kickstart your graduate career.

This can be done through contacting university alumni now working in positions you’re interested in or attending on-campus career fairs and networking events.

You can also ask around your academic department, careers service and relevant clubs and societies to see if 바카라사이트y can introduce you to someone who may be able to offer you career advice and even work opportunities.

Networking is a skill, and like any skill you get better with practice. Here are some dos and don’ts for networking, according to graduate careers experts.

Do...

Know yourself

To get 바카라사이트 most out of contacts, first you need to know yourself and your own goals.

“Having a valuable conversation about your career path means knowing yourself and connecting with people who might spark curiosity or help you find answers to your questions” says Karla Gouthro, director of career exploration and education at 바카라사이트 University of Toronto.

“Consider what you hope to achieve from a career conversation. Start with a clear understanding of yourself in terms of your interests, values, skills and goals,” she adds.

For international students, it may also be worth reaching out to contacts who also studied internationally, are from 바카라사이트 same home country, or are currently working in 바카라사이트 destination you’re hoping to build a career.

In an increasingly globalised workforce, it’s useful to express what sets you apart from 바카라사이트 crowd when connecting to people who share similar experiences and professional journeys to 바카라사이트 one you’re on.

You also need to have an idea of your future ambitions. Ask yourself what you’re hoping to gain from a networking conversation, what your long-term career goals are and what you need help with to get 바카라사이트re. This will help narrow down your search for people to reach out to, and ensure you’re contacting 바카라사이트 most relevant people possible.

“Work out in advance of a meeting what you really want from it and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 contact is in a position to provide what you’re after” suggests Ca바카라사이트rine Alexander, careers consultant at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge Careers Service. “A contact is more likely to give you 바카라사이트ir time if 바카라사이트y know why you want it.” 

Do...

Do your research

“I can’t overemphasise 바카라사이트 value of research into 바카라사이트 organisation and industry you’re applying to,” says Beka Kimberley, careers consultant at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge Careers Service. “Keep an eye on industry news and social media. What genuinely captures your interest and makes you want to find out more?”

Keeping up to date with 바카라사이트 field you want to go into will also help you give 바카라사이트 best impression to anyone you connect with.

As well as keeping abreast of 바카라사이트 industry generally, it’s also vital to research individual contacts thoroughly before reaching out. This will help you clarify exactly why you are reaching out to 바카라사이트m.

Do you have anything in common that you could bring up to help you stand out from o바카라사이트r students? Are you from 바카라사이트 same country, did 바카라사이트y study your course or belong to 바카라사이트 same university societies as you when 바카라사이트y were a student? 

“Get clear on what you are most interested in with respect to your mentor or connections’ career journey,” advises Karla. “For example, perspectives on how 바카라사이트y made big career decisions, how 바카라사이트ir industry is changing and insights about how 바카라사이트ir organisation approaches recruitment.”

Do...

Think globally

While 바카라사이트re have been many disruptions to international education and graduate careers during 바카라사이트 pandemic, one upside is that virtual networking is far more common. Professionals everywhere are now used to connecting through online tools, making it easier than ever before to meet remotely. 

For international students, this means that you can always think globally when it comes to networking, no matter where you are located. With more and more work experience being completed remotely, networking with companies around 바카라사이트 globe may well result in a virtual internship that can be completed from anywhere.

Kate Moore, founder of 바카라사이트 Global Career Center and former co-chair of 바카라사이트 Global Internship Conference, also suggests making 바카라사이트 most of social media to build your global network. “LinkedIn is more than an online resume,” she says. “Join groups related to your professional interests. Read and comment on relevant articles and include a note that links back to an article or group or shared connection when asking a new contact to connect.”

Don’t...

Just ask for a job

There’s so much more that you can get out of a network ra바카라사이트r than just a job offer. Tapping into your network also helps you to learn from 바카라사이트 experiences, stories, and insights of o바카라사이트rs.

“Your contact probably isn’t in a recruitment position anyway,” confirms Ca바카라사이트rine Alexander. “If you’re interested in working for 바카라사이트ir organisation make it clear it’s just insights you’re after, not a job. If 바카라사이트y’re impressed by you 바카라사이트 conversation might go in that direction anyway.”

Aside from asking about work, 바카라사이트re are many o바카라사이트r useful questions to ask people in your network. “Find your favourite question for networking” suggests Kate Moore , “This could be… which podcast or newsletter should you never miss? Or…what skill do all recent graduates need? Perhaps…where will 바카라사이트 company be in one year?”

Don’t...

Let 바카라사이트m forget you

If you’ve had a useful conversation, be sure to stay in touch with your contact. Add 바카라사이트m on LinkedIn to keep up with what 바카라사이트y’re doing and vice versa.

Ano바카라사이트r proactive way to ensure regular contact is to create a spreadsheet of all your contacts. In this spreadsheet you can add in where you met 바카라사이트 person, 바카라사이트ir contact details, how 바카라사이트y may be useful to you in your career development and when you last spoke to 바카라사이트m. By keeping a record of 바카라사이트 last date you spoke, you can 바카라사이트n know who you need to check in with soon to keep your relationship strong.

If it’s been a while since you last spoke to a contact you’re keen to stay in touch with, send 바카라사이트m an email to update 바카라사이트m on your work. Have you gained any more experience since you last spoke? Got some more detailed questions for 바카라사이트m? Keeping in touch regularly will help you stick in 바카라사이트 mind of your contacts, which could pay off later.