The Power of Networking: Building Connections in Schools

India is a very diverse and populous, making it a highly competitive nation. According to the latest UN Population report, India’s population is now at 143 Crores in 2023, making it the most populated country in the world, surpassing China. While the youth of the country are gearing up to become employable by mastering relevant skills and gaining vast amounts of theoretical and practical knowledge in various fields, it is essential to educate them on the art of networking. 

NHFS-5 survey shows that the Indian population is very young, where people below 30 make up more than half of the population. This means that the majority of the population is in the academic phases of their lives, which makes networking that much more important. 

What Is Networking?

Networking is the process of communicating with others to gain knowledge on various topics while at the same time growing one’s social circle for a better reach to various diverse industries and sections of society. 

Why is it Essential for Students?

Networking plays a huge part in every student’s life while trying to get a job or to learn a specific skill that they can use to get a job. Networking also plays a major role in ensuring students gain communication skills, which helps them further their prospects of getting a job. 

By interacting with peers and industry experts, students can gauge the expectations and requirements of various industries and prepare themselves in an industry-specific manner. Communicating also helps students pick up new skills and allows them to gain perspectives on different subject matters that otherwise would have gone unthought of. 

How to network effectively as a college student?

Students these days have realised early the power of networking. College students are using all the resources available to them. They are also reaching out to people with similar interests and are seen bouncing off ideas to improve themselves and expand their knowledge base. 

One can also build connections by joining the various clubs within the campus and gaining knowledge by interacting with seniors and club coordinators. These clubs help build confidence and allow students to interact with people with varied and diverse opinions.

Another way to network is to interact with industry experts and professionals while interning with organisations as part of the college curriculum. 

Benefits of Networking in Colleges

The availability of the internet means that online social networks and education go hand in hand. By combining social networking and campus life, networking benefits are visible. A few benefits of networking in colleges are – 

• Unlocks Perspectives –  By networking with various people within the college and peers from other colleges, students can gain diverse perspectives on many topics, which can help them build their thoughts. 
• Guidance & Expertise – Networking in colleges means that you can interact and build connections with professors and research scholars who can help you understand the nuances of the industry you are interested in and help you develop skill sets for the same. 
• Career Networking – College events can be an opportunity to network with industry leaders and experts. Building connections during college events can also help students get career opportunities. 
• Collaboration – You can always network across colleges and build teams to collaborate with your peers and help develop projects to help you make your portfolio for better career opportunities. 

Networking plays a vital role in ensuring that you are heard among your peers and also helps forward your career, thanks to the many connections built over the years. 

MIT Gurukul is one of the best preschools in Pune. It is also considered to be one of the best IB Schools in Pune that equips students with the necessary skills in their early academic years to be able to leverage maximum use of soft skills like networking and communication.