by Shivy Mannengi, a Tech, Data & Engineering intern
Welcome back to the world of career prep through the eyes of a fellow student!
Networking can feel uncomfortable at first, especially as an engineering student. I’ve been there, navigating countless calls that felt transactional with no upside. However, this process becomes much easier when approached as a skill that can be developed over time rather than something you are naturally good or bad at. Below are a few key areas to work on to focus on getting better at networking.
Shift Your Mindset: Networking is Just a Conversation:
Ideally, networking should not feel transactional. It is simply a conversation where the goal is to learn about someone’s experiences. Instead of pressuring yourself to say the “right” thing, focus on approaching it with thoughtful questions and being genuinely curious. This makes interactions feel natural and less forced. After a certain number of calls, I personally stopped writing down specific questions to ask and instead had a general idea of the areas I wanted to hear about. For me, this kept the tone more conversational instead of just reading off a list of questions.
Start Small and Build Confidence:
Networking doesn’t have to begin at large recruiting events. Start with low-pressure situations such as speaking to your professors, a guest after class, or even reaching out to a recent alum you know on LinkedIn. These smaller conversations build confidence and make larger settings feel less stressful over time.
Focus on Listening:
Strong networking calls have a balance of listening and talking. Asking follow-up questions and showing genuine interest will engage the person you are networking with better. Overall, this will help build stronger connections and take pressure off yourself to constantly speak.
Follow Up:
After a conversation, send a short message to thank the person and reference something you discussed. This helps turn a one-time interaction into a longer-term connection.
Overall, networking does not have to feel awkward and transactional. By focusing on conversation, curiosity, and consistency, it becomes a much more natural and valuable skill over time. Using the tips above will allow you to stand out, especially in engineering recruiting. Good luck with the process and trust yourself in each call to be confident and composed!
