First off, attend any events that will allow you to network or socialize with faculty members or students within your own program. Pay attention to the e-mails you get from your program\u2014they might mention such soirees. Keep an eye out for campus flyers too.<\/p>\n
You should also schedule regular office hours with your professors, ask a professor to act as a mentor, or suggest dinner with fellow students. Relationships grow most easily out of social situations, and you never know whom your closest colleagues might introduce you to.<\/p>\n
You won\u2019t meet anyone new if you don\u2019t venture out. Take advantage of any funds available through your grad program\u2014or put up your own\u2014to travel solo to a conference, visit a nearby school\u2019s symposium, set up an informational interview, or attend a club meeting on a topic only tangentially related to your own. You might discover a new interest . . . or valuable contacts in your own field.<\/p>\n
Sitting quietly through a conference is a wasted opportunity. Brainstorm smart questions to ask beforehand, and familiarize yourself with speakers\u2019 and other attendees\u2019 research so you have a conversation starter.\u00a0Dress professionally and take notes, listen, and follow up later<\/a><\/b>. Genuine interest goes a long way toward making an impression.<\/p>\n Some graduate students create business cards, whether through school or an inexpensive printing service, to help them stand out during informational interviews or conferences. While cards are a plus, it\u2019s even more important that you cultivate a professional presence online.<\/p>\n Most contacts or interviewers will Google you at some point\u2014you should know exactly what they\u2019re going to find. Make sure your online profile is respectable. Beef up your LinkedIn profile with skills, endorsements, and a professional photo (no selfies from the beach). Or go a step further and create a professional website for yourself using a free site creator like\u00a0Wix<\/a><\/b>, Weebly, or\u00a0WordPress<\/a><\/b>. Your site can include contact information, a CV or r\u00e9sum\u00e9, any credentials or publications, and a blurb detailing professional and personal interests. Spending a single night making yourself look professional online will convince people that you are. (Because you totally are, obviously.)<\/p>\n4. Establish a professional presence<\/h2>\n
5. Don\u2019t be shy<\/h2>\n