As an online college student, it can be so easy to fall into the habit of focusing solely on your academics with the ultimate goal of graduating in mind. The more you excel in your studies, the closer you are to graduating, which means post-graduate life is right around the corner.
For many college graduates, the transition to post-graduate life can be a breeze while for others, it can be extremely hard. Much of this difficulty stems from many students choosing to focus on maintaining a high GPA without putting forth the extra effort to network and make connections.
You as an online college student are especially vulnerable to this predicament.
Yes, this could be attributed to online college students not being afforded the same social opportunities as their traditional counterparts. However, thanks to the vast nature of digital communication, networking is not impossible in online classes. Here are seven best ways to network as an online college student.
1. Foster relationships with your classmates and professors
There is no better way to network as an online college student than with the people you are exposed to the most: your classmates and professors.
In most online classes, discussion board assignments are a big part of the curriculum, but many students only use this outlet to answer the prompt and move on. But I advise you to take it even further and engage your classmates and professors beyond the bare minimum and what is expected.
This is especially a great way to give your professors the impression that you are not only active in the course but also that you are serious about growing in your knowledge of the subject. If graduate school is in the plans, this would be a guaranteed method to get a nice letter of recommendation.
Related: How to Write a Successful Discussion Board Post
2. Attend networking events on campus (if possible)
If your school frequently hosts networking events and you live in close proximity to campus, you should definitely make time to take advantage of these events.
It is totally understandable if your schedule is full throughout the week, but I highly advise you to make time to attend at least one networking event per semester as an online student.
You never know who you may connect with and the opportunities that could come from such a connection.
Get on campus and network!
3. Use social media to your advantage
As much as we like to express our gripes with it, social media is a powerful networking tool. On platforms like Twitter, Reddit, Linkedin, and Facebook, there are so many ways to promote yourself and interact with professionals in your field of study.
For example, with job postings on Linkedin, there is usually the option to contact a recruiter or hiring manager with just one click. There is also the possibility that a recruiter will reach out to you first, depending on how attractive your profile is.
Additionally, if you are someone who is interested in pursuing a career in a creative field, then social media is perfect for networking. Through social media, you can promote your craft while also interacting with those who share your same interest. In turn, this heightens your chances of landing gigs and ultimately establishing a name for yourself.
Social media platforms also grant you access to first-hand accounts of what it's like to work in a certain industry. I've personally found subreddits on Reddit to be the most insightful when it comes to this.
For example, r/nursing would be great for those who are currently taking prerequisites for nursing school or for those who are considering the nursing field. You can either share your own post or search around for keywords pertaining to your issue. There are always Redditors open and willing to provide their insight on whatever concern you may have.
The networking possibilities are endless on social media.
4. Keep in contact with your school's career services
Your school's career services department is a very important resource, one of which many online students are not aware.
If you are currently an online student and are not aware of this very important resource, go onto your school's website and find the contact information and reach out. You should especially do this if you are currently a junior or senior.
Networking in your school's career services office is a great way to gain an extra layer of support when it comes to developing your resume, honing your interviewing skills, determining your career path, and ultimately finding employment. You cannot go wrong, here.
5. Seek out and take on an internship
In many online programs, an internship is typically not required but I personally believe every online college student should take on at least one internship during their time as a student.
An internship is a great way for you to network and gain real-world experience in your field of study while being exposed to a variety of individuals who could later open doors for you after you graduate.
Again, keeping those grades intact is important, but you want to ensure that the transition to the workforce is as smooth as possible. Sure, hurdles will be hard to dodge but simply taking on an internship before you graduate could make a huge difference in the future.
6. Reach out to people in your community
If somehow you are unable to network on your school's campus, then reaching out to people in your community is a great way to network. It is especially great if you live in or near a large city where the possibilities are endless as far as the types of professionals you may come across.
For example, if you are currently an online criminal justice major, it may be a good idea to connect with your local police force or visit a correctional facility in your area and shadow a professional on the job. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and gain insight into the day-to-day operations, which is very important.
Having such insight as an online college student will help you determine if a particular field is right for you while also giving you a visual of what it's going to take to reach a certain height in the field.
Pro Tip: While job shadowing, ask questions pertaining to skills that are most valuable in the field. Knowing what skills are needed will help you take a look at your own skillset and determine what you need to improve upon and what new skills you need to develop altogether.
7. Use email to your advantage
Many do not realize this but there is power in cold emailing as an online college student. If you ever run across a company that piques your interest, please do not hesitate to find the recruiter's or the hiring manager's email and reach out.
Start off by introducing yourself and your future goals and then move on to expressing your interest in the company. There is a high chance that the individual will reach back out to you and you just may be set to land an internship or interview.
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In conclusion, keeping your grades up as an online college student is important, but taking the time out to network is of even greater importance. You will eventually graduate and if your goal is to be gainfully employed after college, you should definitely start networking if you haven't already; you are not going to be a student forever.
Hopefully, at least a few of these ways have given you a general idea of how to move forward with your networking efforts. The more you network, the more connections you will have to fall back on should a certain plan not go as desired.
If you are currently an online student in college, in what ways are you networking? Start the convo below! (anonymous commenting available)
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