| Situation | What the guidance supports | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Building a starting network | Your network already includes family, friends, roommates, alumni, club or organization members, current and former coworkers and neighbors. | Write a list of these names before approaching any stranger, then message the warmest contacts first. |
| Joining professional groups | Many professional groups have a subgroup for recent grads and young professionals. | Look for the early-career subgroup before you pick events to attend. |
| After meeting someone | Connect or follow them online and send a quick note within a couple of days that mentions something you discussed. | Block time within a couple of days of any event to write notes while the conversation is fresh. |
| After a virtual event | Send LinkedIn connection requests to speakers and attendees immediately after the event. | Have your profile updated before you log on, so a new contact sees it straight away. |
| Informational interview | The goal is to gather insights, advice and information, not to secure a job offer. | Ask about the field, the culture and the path into the role, and keep job requests out of the conversation. |
The figures and guidance above come from Handshake’s student networking guide and the PHERN early career guide to building your network.
To learn how to network as a student or new graduate, start with people you already know, prepare a short introduction, and send a specific follow-up note within a couple of days. The aim is relationships, not favours.
Networking helps most once you have a direction, and the Careers hub explains how to choose a career before you start asking for introductions. The sections below cover who to contact, what to say, how to follow up and why the approach works.
Starting with the people you already know
Beginners do best by reaching out to people they already know before meeting strangers, as Handshake advises students. A warm contact is easier to message, and it gives you practice describing what you want. Your starting network is probably larger than you expect, because it covers family, friends, roommates, alumni, club members, coworkers and neighbors.
Meeting new people in professional settings can feel intimidating, according to the PHERN guidance, so a gradual route is reasonable. These choices suit different starting points:
- Message a familiar contact. This suits you if events feel daunting. Ask an alum or former coworker about their path and what they would do differently.
- Join an early-career subgroup. Many professional groups run one for recent grads and young professionals. It suits you if you want peers at a similar stage and a ready-made reason to talk.
- Attend a virtual event first. LinkedIn and Handshake regularly offer virtual resources and events. This suits you if you would rather observe before speaking in person.
- Take on a slower pace. People who are more introverted or shy may take more time to develop connections. That is a normal pattern and not a sign you are doing it wrong. If this describes you, the guide to Best Jobs for Introverts: 10 High‑Paying, Low‑Social Careers That Fit You in 2026 – Peopleil shows careers that suit quieter working styles.
What to say at a networking event
At a networking event, say who you are, show interest in the other person and ask a question about their work. Preparation does most of the work. Coursera’s networking advice notes that knowing your value is a confidence booster when you build new relationships, and that practising how you introduce yourself eases nerves. A short, rehearsed introduction of this kind is often called an elevator pitch. Say it aloud a few times so it sounds like you rather than a script.
Before you walk in
Update your resume, LinkedIn profile and business cards before the event, as the PHERN guide suggests. If someone looks you up that evening, the profile should match what you told them.
Openers and questions that work
Casual outreach can be as simple as walking up to someone at the event and introducing yourself. Coursera’s example opens with a name and the admission that it is your first time at the event, which gives the other person an easy way to start talking. You can adapt it:
- Opening line. “Hi, I’m [name]. This is my first time at [event].” Honesty about being new invites the other person to guide you.
- Interest questions. Handshake suggests questions such as “Have you always been interested in this role or industry?” and “How did you get started in your current role?”
- Turn the question around. After you answer a question about yourself, ask something similar back, so the exchange stays balanced.
- Exchange details. When the conversation is going well, ask to exchange contact information. It sets up the follow-up, which is where most of the value comes from.
The same habit of knowing what you offer helps in interviews. The guide to Strengths And Weaknesses For Interviews: What To Say, How To Say It, And Examples For 2026 – Peopleil shows how to put it into words.
Following up after meeting someone
Follow up within a couple of days of meeting someone, by connecting or following them online and sending a short note. Handshake advises telling them you enjoyed meeting them and mentioning something you discussed so they remember the conversation. A specific detail separates a useful note from a generic one.
Message templates to adapt
These scripts follow wording from Handshake and Coursera. Replace the brackets with your own details and keep each message short.
- Note after an event. “Hi [name], I enjoyed meeting you at [event]. I especially liked what you said about [topic you discussed]. I’d love to stay in touch.”
- Coffee suggestion. Coursera’s example to a former contact reads: “Any interest in grabbing coffee sometime in the next couple of weeks?” It is a low-pressure request with a clear window.
- Short meeting request. Coursera’s example asks: “Any chance you have time for a 25-minute meeting over the next few weeks?” A named, short length makes it easier to say yes.
- Virtual event connection. The PHERN guide recommends sending LinkedIn connection requests to speakers and attendees immediately after the event. Add a line naming the session and one idea that stood out.
Keeping the relationship alive
Handshake warns against reaching out only when you need something. A contact who hears from you between requests is more likely to respond when you do ask. A brief message when you read something relevant to their work is enough.
Informational interviews for deeper conversations
An informational interview suits you when you want to learn about a field before you apply. The PHERN guide explains that, unlike a traditional job interview, the goal is to gather insights, advice and information. It describes the format as a low-stakes way to deepen your understanding of a field, a company culture or a type of job.
The guide breaks the process into five stages:
- Request. Ask for a short conversation and say why you chose this person.
- Schedule. Offer a clear window, as in the meeting request template above.
- Prepare. Read about the person’s work and write your questions beforehand.
- Conduct. Stay on topic and listen more than you talk.
- Follow up. Send a thank-you note that mentions something you learned.
Do not use the conversation to ask for a job. Doing so changes its purpose and can make the other person less open with you.
Why this approach works
Networking is the process of making connections and building relationships with other professionals in your field, according to the PHERN guide. Handshake describes it as connecting with people and cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship. Both definitions point to a relationship that builds over time, which is why one-off requests rarely work.
Professional networks combine closer ties, such as coworkers and classmates, with weaker ties, such as conference contacts. PHERN observes that when people talk about networking, they usually mean growing the network of weaker ties on purpose. That explains the advice to follow up and keep in touch: a weak tie only becomes useful if you maintain it.
A Harvard Business Review beginner’s guide makes the point that networking does not have to feel opportunistic and can be a moment to make genuine connections. Treating each conversation as a chance to learn something helps you avoid the pushy feeling many beginners dread.
Frequently asked questions
What if I feel nervous about my first networking event?
Nerves are common, since meeting new people in professional settings can be intimidating. Handshake suggests asking a friend with similar career interests to attend with you, and Coursera recommends practising your introduction beforehand.
Can introverted or shy people network well?
Yes. Some people take more time to develop connections, and the PHERN guide treats that as a normal difference between people. Smaller steps, such as messaging contacts you already know or joining a virtual event, build the same relationships at a gentler pace.
Is it wrong to contact people only when I need help?
It is better not to. Keeping in touch regularly, rather than contacting someone only when you want something, keeps the connection active. Check in occasionally so the relationship exists before you make a request.
Where do I find events for recent graduates?
Many professional groups have a subgroup for recent grads and young professionals, and platforms such as LinkedIn and Handshake regularly offer virtual resources and events. Start with the groups in your field and look for the early-career option.
