networkingNetwork, network, network. It might be the answer to finding a great job or the next great business contract. It is, after all, not what you know but who.

If you are looking at an empty rolodex you may be asking yourself, how does one go about building a powerful network? It is more than a collection of business cards or contacts on LinkedIn. A network is as powerful as the relationships behind it, and all of your relationships are your network. Those friends on Facebook? Network. Your intramural badminton team? Network. And it just may be the most powerful one you have.

Still, your college is likely to host events with alumni or fellow students, giving you an opportunity to meet people you might not run into otherwise, but who could prove beneficial to your career. Despite its best intentions, forced networking like this can be a difficult place to build relationships. But they are a good place to make a first impression.

Do get out of your comfort zone and go to a mixer. Do not turn into a “business card ninja,” to quote Chris Brogan and thrust your card into everyone’s face. Instead, be the card gatherer. At events, put yourself out there – talk to everyone, not just the keynote speaker. You never know who someone might know, or who you might have something in common with.

Speaking of finding something in common – that is exactly what you want to do when you go to a mixer. Do not immediately launch into your resume. Instead, become the master of small talk by discovering passion, as author and blogger Guy Kawasaki points out. When someone gets the chance to talk about a passion, they remember it. Especially at an event that is supposed to be all-business. A new connection is likely going to remember “that one student who loves sailing as much as I do” versus the 10 other students who would like me to set them up with a job at my company.

This coincides with the next part of networking at a mixer – the day after. Hopefully you didn’t drink too much – I’m not talking about a hangover. Because you spend the night collecting business cards, you can be proactive. Follow up within a few days, says Gen Y networking expert Rebecca Thorman. Send an email with the travel tips that you talked about in the initial meeting and promised to send. Or a link to that YouTube video that you talked about. Or even follow up with an invitation to build the relationship, perhaps with a meet-up for coffee or lunch.

Networking is simply expanding your relationships. Whether done in a formal setting or done by accident when you just happen to sit next to someone in class, by having a constant thought of focusing on building relationships, not only will you see your professional network fill with contacts, you will simply be more fulfilled as a person. Because the most networked people you meet are simply people with a lot of friends – not a lot of contacts.

Photo: Author of this post at a networking event of local bloggers where we learned how to trapeze. Out of the box and memorable did the trick for this event. 

Photo by Kara DeFrias