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Networking for graduate students: Building professional relationships
The essence of networking and relationship building lies in the forming of alliances among people with common interests. Graduate school is the ideal environment to begin building your network.

Graduate students share a common interest and work closely in smaller groups. You're likely more tuned in to your future than you were as an undergraduate. Your relationship with your professors is far more intimate than it was when the professor was that tiny figure in the front of the lecture hall filled with hundreds of students.

Your peers are your best and closest source for long lasting relationships, to really get to know one another. How many stories have you heard about roomates who have become lifelong friends? How many powerful figures have you seen moving among their own networks, networks that began during their years as graduate students?

Take advantage of every opportunity to grow your network, but never take advantage of the people. Networks must operate in the spirit of giving without expectation. There really is no other way. The giving mindset operates in perfect accord with the law of reciprocity. Give and you shall receive isn't a cliche, it's the way the world is meant to work. And it does.

You might be surprised when something you need seems to pop out of thin air like magic. It's not magic. It'll be because you've build up a network of friends and professional associates based on trust and strong, ethical networking values.

Networking is an art, and art you've been practicing since you were a kid making friends. Think back to those first circles of friends. How many were "takers?" Probably none, at least once they showed their true, gimmie colors. Nobody likes a person who always has their hand out looking for favors and never giving in return. Pity is they have it backwards.

Networks are about mutual respect and understanding. True friendship is a reward in itself. Friends (the real ones) are always happy to help each other, and helping each other is at the core of a proper network.

Members of a network stay in contact with each other, even if it's just to say hello, how have you been, now and then. Giving freely of yourself will pay dividends over and over. The professional networks you begin building in graduate school are likely to last a lifetime when you commit to your fellows.

Learn more about this author, John McDevitt.
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