From Campus to Career
Students are told to network. Almost nobody shows them how.
So it becomes connection counts and “hi sir, please refer me”. This session replaces that with something workable: how to introduce yourself, how to ask a question worth answering, how to follow up, and what actually has to be true before somebody will attach their name to your application.
Networking is not asking for a job.
A student who opens with a request is asking a stranger to attach their professional reputation to somebody they know nothing about — not who they are, what they can do, which role they want, or whether they are any good. Almost nobody says yes to that, and the student concludes networking does not work.
It works the other way round: learn first, build the relationship, and let the opportunity follow. That takes longer, which is exactly why it should start well before placement season.
How this actually works
59 topics across 12 areas. Twelve things nobody explains.
Start With CuriosityAsk a better question than “can you get me a job?”6
- How did you get into this career?
- What does your role actually involve?
- What skills should a student build for this?
- What do freshers usually misunderstand?
- What projects would you recommend?
- What would you do differently as a student?
Good questions produce conversations. Requests produce silence.
Introduce YourselfMake it easy for somebody to place you.5
“I'm Ananya, a final-year Computer Science student preparing for backend roles. I've been working with Java and SQL, and recently built a small inventory application.” Clear, relevant, and easy to continue.
- Your name
- College and branch
- Current semester
- The career area you are exploring
- Something you are building or learning
Who Is Actually in Your NetworkYou need a few people who know you, not a thousand who do not.8
- Working engineers
- Recruiters and hiring managers
- College seniors
- People met at events
- Internship mentors
- Entrepreneurs
- Industry speakers
- People in roles you are exploring
Use LinkedIn With PurposeA profile you never open is not a network.7
- Follow companies and professionals
- Understand career paths
- Read about real industry work
- Find internships
- Stay connected after events
- Showcase projects
- Ask thoughtful questions
The Connection RequestContext is what makes it work.3
“I attended your session on cloud careers today. Your explanation of entry-level DevOps work was useful — I'd like to stay connected and follow your work.” Short. Not a life story.
- Where you encountered them
- What was useful
- Why you want to connect
The First MessageMake it easy to reply.3
“I'm a final-year student exploring business analysis. I saw you moved from engineering into a BA role — I'm trying to understand which skills mattered most when you started. What would you recommend a fresher focus on first?” Far easier to answer than “please guide me about my career.”
- Who you are, in one line
- Why you are contacting them specifically
- One clear question
Respect People's TimeSilence is not personal.4
- Do not send repeated messages
- Follow up once, briefly, if appropriate
- Move on respectfully
- Remember they owe you nothing
Follow UpThis is the part almost everybody skips.4
“Thank you for speaking with us today. Your point about building one strong project instead of many certificates was useful — I'm going to work on that.” Later, when you have: “you suggested a stronger backend project. I finished one, and your advice helped me structure it.” Now there is continuity.
- Thank them specifically
- Say what you took from it
- Act on it
- Come back when you have
Be Worth RememberingRelationships grow through repeated positive contact.6
- Asking thoughtful questions
- Following through on advice
- Building interesting projects
- Sharing useful work
- Helping at events
- Being reliable
Attend Events DifferentlyMost students listen, photograph, and leave.3
- Before: who is speaking, what do they do, what would you genuinely ask
- During: listen, take notes, ask one useful question
- After: introduce yourself, thank them, connect, follow up if there is a real reason
What a Referral Actually IsA professional recommendation, not a favour.4
An employee shares your profile internally, submits it through the referral system, or introduces you to the hiring team. It makes your application visible.
- It does not guarantee shortlisting
- It does not guarantee an interview
- It does not guarantee selection
- You still have to meet the requirements
When to AskAnd what has to be true first.6
Not “please refer me to any job”. Instead: “I saw the Junior Backend Engineer role at your company. I've been preparing for backend roles with Java, Spring Boot and SQL, and the requirements look relevant. If you think my profile fits, would you be comfortable referring me?”
- There is a specific open role
- You meet the basic requirements
- Your resume is ready
- You understand the role
- You could handle the interview it produces
- There is some relationship or context
Sometimes the better request is not a referral at all: “what gap would you close before applying?”
Common mistakes
- Connecting with no context
- Asking for a job immediately
- Sending everybody the same message
- Asking questions too broad to answer
- Never following up
- Contacting people only when you need something
- Expecting everyone to reply
- Treating a connection count as a network
The network already around you
- Seniors and juniors
- Faculty and project guides
- Internship coordinators
- Visiting speakers
- Former students you already know
- Friends working in companies
- A senior who graduated two years ago often understands fresher hiring better than a senior executive
Networking for introverts
- One-to-one conversations
- Thoughtful written messages
- Small events
- Technical communities
- Project discussions
- Online groups
- The goal is not to talk to everybody. It is to build a few genuine relationships in a way that suits you.
A simple system
- Name, organisation and role
- Where you met
- What you discussed
- Their LinkedIn
- When to follow up
- Something useful you learned
- No software required — the point is remembering the relationship
How the session runs
A professional describes how relationships actually shaped their own career. Students then practise a 30–60 second introduction, and write real connection requests, first messages and follow-ups. The room then meets working professionals and has the conversations for real. Recruiters explain how referral systems work, when they refer somebody and what makes them decline. Everyone leaves with a follow-up plan.
What your students leave with
- A professional introduction they can actually deliver
- Better questions to ask somebody working in a role they want
- Connection requests and first messages that get replies
- The habit of following up, and of acting on advice first
- An accurate picture of how referrals work inside a company
- The judgement to know when they are ready to ask for one
- A simple system for keeping track of the people they meet
Scheduled sessions
Nothing scheduled yet
Sessions are arranged with a college once a date is agreed. Ask us and we will find the right person for it.
A student rather than a college? See what is coming up, or ask your placement team to host this.
Do not build your network only when you need a job.
Tell us who your students are and what stage they are at. Sessions are free for participants.