2 answers
Taylor
Student
Ohio, Ohio
1
Question
Asked
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How do I network to build long-lasting connections with business professionals?
I am a freshman at the University of Cincinnati studying Finance, Operations Management, and a certificate in Non-Profit and Organizational leadership. I have been networking with people, reaching out to my career advisor, and business professionals on LinkedIn.
I was wondering what is the best way to network myself, and to gain long-lasting connections. Sometimes networking feels weird and awkward, and I want to build connections that go both ways, rather than just me asking for something.
Do you guys have any advice on how to build these long-lasting connections? Thank you!
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2 answers
Chris Lovett
Senior Sales Consultant
8
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Chris’s Answer
Good advice from Eddy.
As a 30+years Senior Sales Leader, I would always promote being authentic. It is an overused word these days, but by being yourself, not over-pushing and sincerely looking for a win-win and a partnership, you earn credibility and trust. This leads to long term relationships. Sometimes it may take time before they come to business fruition, but that is networking... As a result you can have customers become long term friends and vice versa. So long as you are authentic and trying to help them out too - quid pro quo goes a long way!
Good luck Taylor - it is a delight to see such a question!
As a 30+years Senior Sales Leader, I would always promote being authentic. It is an overused word these days, but by being yourself, not over-pushing and sincerely looking for a win-win and a partnership, you earn credibility and trust. This leads to long term relationships. Sometimes it may take time before they come to business fruition, but that is networking... As a result you can have customers become long term friends and vice versa. So long as you are authentic and trying to help them out too - quid pro quo goes a long way!
Good luck Taylor - it is a delight to see such a question!
Yes, being authentic has definitely helped me the most in interviews and such. I am overly passionate about anything I do, and I show that through my wide smiles in networking conversations, interviews, and it has always worked out great!
Taylor
Excellent! I am the same. As one of my bosses told me about 30yrs ago, "you can never knock enthusiasm!" Keep it going Taylor....
Chris Lovett
Eddy H
Consultant
56
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Eddy’s Answer
It is great that you are already thinking about networking early, because it really is one of the most effective ways to take ownership of your career over time. When I was in college, I made a point to attend a lot of career fairs, and while not every conversation turned into something meaningful, those settings often led to introductions, especially when I showed genuine interest in a role or company and recruiters connected me with someone on their team.
LinkedIn is another strong starting point, and you are already using it well, but the key is to keep the initial outreach low pressure by asking thoughtful questions or requesting a short video call rather than immediately asking for opportunities.
It is also worth taking advantage of any recruitment events your university hosts, since those are designed for relationship building and give you a chance to meet professionals who are already interested in connecting with students. To make these relationships last, focus on being genuinely curious about their experiences, follow up occasionally with updates or relevant articles, and look for small ways to offer value, even if that just means sharing something interesting or expressing appreciation. Over time, this shifts networking from feeling transactional to something more mutual and authentic.
LinkedIn is another strong starting point, and you are already using it well, but the key is to keep the initial outreach low pressure by asking thoughtful questions or requesting a short video call rather than immediately asking for opportunities.
It is also worth taking advantage of any recruitment events your university hosts, since those are designed for relationship building and give you a chance to meet professionals who are already interested in connecting with students. To make these relationships last, focus on being genuinely curious about their experiences, follow up occasionally with updates or relevant articles, and look for small ways to offer value, even if that just means sharing something interesting or expressing appreciation. Over time, this shifts networking from feeling transactional to something more mutual and authentic.
Thank you so much for the amazing advice! I understand as I network, connections will grow, and I look forward to that!
Taylor