Networking 101
Networking is daunting and can be scary at first, but after going to your first couple events and meeting new people, you’ll be a networking all star.
What is networking?
Networking is basically connecting with other people in the industry and exchanging information. This an important skill to have because, especially as a young person as it can lead to job opportunities. There are tons of ways to network, both online and in person. Let’s get into it!
In-Person Events
Pre-Covid, this was the way to go. And now that things are opening back up, there seems to be more opportunities to attend physical events. What’s great about these, is that you get to meet actual people! The idea of introducing yourself to a stranger is super nerve-wracking, but with enough practice it becomes super easy, and can be fun.
These events are usually conferences or speaker events. Even if your goal isn’t to network, these events are really important to attend as they are suer educational and insightful. If you go to enough of these you’ll see a few familiar faces.
Here is a simple formula to introducing yourself to someone, basically your “elevator pitch”.
Introduce yourself
“Hi my name is [insert name] and I’m a Communication Design student at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. I focus my work in [insert area of interest]. I would love to hear more about what you do.
Typically at in-person events there will be (most likely free) food and drinks. This is the optimal time to mingle and chat with others.
More often than not, you will be connecting with MassArt alumni, so they understand the struggles of being a student and will want to help you out. Asking for a coffee or an informal chat after the event is totally normal, and most people will be flattered to do so!
Side Note: having a business card is not required, but definitely helps in these situations. For sophomores and even juniors it’s not expected, but once you are a senior you should consider in printing some. Vistaprint and Moo are easy go-tos, but if you are in a crunch, you can just hand-make some with a printer in the studio. Remember craft!
Points to Hit
- Area of interest
- Education background
- Any internship or professional experience
- Ask about their background and their area of expertise
- Ask about their current workplace and position and how they got there
- Ask for any advice as a up and coming designer
- End with a call to action! Ask for a business card or exchange emails, or even ask for their social media handles.
Online Events
Although it’s online, these events can just be as valuable. It can be a bit harder to meet people, but if you really liked a speaker or whoever was presenting, feel free to email them after the event expressing your enthusiasm about the topic and see where that goes!
There’s often an online chat attached to these events as well, so don’t be afraid to participate and ask questions, or if you really like someone else’s question, you can reach out to them too.