Building Your Network

1. Introduce yourself to classmates and also introduce people in your network to one another who would benefit by knowing each other. This will help you receive similar introductions.
2. Actively participate in on-campus organizations and professional associations so you can meet people related to your field(s) of interest. Many associations have free or reduced student membership rates. If you don’t find an organization that meets your interests, consider starting one.
3. Reach out to your professors and campus administrators. Make sure your professors know who you are by asking questions and going to their office hours for individual attention.
4. Attend campus networking events.  These events are excellent opportunities to network with professionals.  Think about it: professionals wouldn’t come to campus if they didn’t want to connect with UMD students!  It’s already a guaranteed conversation.
5. Network with fellow Terps and Terp alums during career panels, fairs and other events. Alums already have a shared common experience with you (they attended UMD, too!). Alums can help give insight into various industries, provide a source of critique on resumes, cover letters, and mock interviews, and can sometimes even serve as a link to a specific company or industry.
6. Connect online by creating and remaining active on select professional social platforms such as Terrapins Connect and LinkedIn—more information about these tools is below.
7. Connect with your parents’ friends and your friends’ parents who may have expertise in the field you are interested in and ask for their advice on your career aspirations. And don’t forget your relatives, neighbors, coaches, and others. Be sure to share your strengths and skill sets. They might just be your link to your next employer!
8. Pursue an internship to get your foot in the door with an organization or to connect you with other opportunities.

• Research the organization(s) and panelists or key individuals that will be in attendance.
• Take notes during the panel and be empowered to ask questions that arise.
• Focus on learning: Shift your focus from worrying about how you're perceived to actively listening and learning from the panelists. This can hopefully help distract from anxiety and make the experience more rewarding.
• After the panel, introduce yourself, ask any additional questions for clarity, and share with the panelist(s) your key takeaways.  Keep in mind, these panelists are choosing to spend their personal time to help educate you on their industry/field. They’re here to help!
• If you would like to stay in touch, ask the panelist if you can either connect on LinkedIn or follow up with them via email.

• Research the organizations that will be in attendance and the internships/jobs they have actively posted in Handshake, on their organization’s website, and other sites.  Which opportunities do you want to prioritize when attending the fair?  Use a version of this Career Fair tracking tool to help you stay organized in your search.
• Practice your introduction to employers with a friend or trusted colleague, like a UCC career advisor.
• Stay in touch with the employer and send a follow-up email to them after the event to express your interest and intended next steps.
• Practice self-compassion. It's okay to feel nervous or make small mistakes. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that networking is a skill that improves with practice.
• Read more details about how to prepare for a Career & Internship Fair here.
• Be mindful of what you have to offer (such as your skillset, relevant knowledge, fresh insights) and what you are hoping to gain/learn.

• Video: How to Create a Strong LinkedIn Profile

Quick LinkedIn tips are below.  For more details, click the video above:

• Choose a professional photo.  Dress neatly with a natural facial expression.  Avoid selfies.
• Write a summary in the first person, showcase your experiences and accomplishments, and tailor your summary to the industry/field(s) you’re pursuing.
• Include relevant experiences, including paid and non-paid opportunities.  Share relevant class projects, part-time jobs, internships, research opportunities, campus/community involvement, and more.  Describe these experiences for the employer and the impact made.
• Highlight skills you want employers to know about. Recruiters can search LinkedIn based on skills and experience; highlight yours.

Join the UMD Alumni LinkedIn Group

The University of Maryland College Park Alumni Association (Official) LinkedIn group is an excellent place to meet and connect with fellow Terps. These students and alumni, who are proud of their connection with the University, are a great starting point when building your LinkedIn network. The group also offers many resources to aid with professional development. Join 32,000+ Terps HERE.

Alumni Tool

Want to see what other Terps are doing with your major? Use the LinkedIn Alumni Tool to sort through 245,000+ alumni to see where Terps are by major, industry, location, etc.

Terrapins Connect is the University's virtual platform with the goal of connecting Terps from across the world with one another for mentoring, networking and professional opportunities.

Whether you are looking to give or receive advice, Terrapins Connect provides a way to get involved. By joining the platform, you gain access to connect with thousands of fellow Terps, lively affinity and professional groups, formal and informal mentoring programs, access to career development resources and programs, and so much more. What are you waiting for? Get started today!