����APP

Your average highschooler doesn’t come across the word ‘networking’ or even contemplate its significance until the reality of adulthood settles in. It may seem daunting as a teenager to come across such an unfamiliar concept. Suddenly, you have to find a job, get advice from an industry expert, or seek mentors. All of which you don’t know where to find and most importantly, who to ask.

“What do you mean I need to have ‘connections’ in order to succeed?”

“I have to talk to strangers willingly?”

“What even is networking?”

These are a few of the valid concerns and questions that a highschooler may ask. The ‘real’ world outside of school life is vastly different. Staying in your comfort zone and relying on your two faithful friends is no longer an option. So, how can you, as a highschooler, start early and coax yourself out of your social shell in order to meet the right people?

Why the effort?

‘Where there is a will, there is a way’. That is how the saying goes. So, the first step to networking is establishing the reason; finding your reasons and intentions for approaching others. Your ‘will’. There are many proven, but generalised, benefits of networking. In their , Ravishankar talks about how networking makes you more aware of opportunities and the industry. Also, feedback, insights, and tips ‘can result in you learning, growing, and performing at a higher level’.

Networking in high school gives you an advantage.

In the current day and age, your connections and people you know have become more important than ever. The networking game is a game that we are not taught to play until we graduate. But, what if you start the game ahead of everyone else? Starting in high school will ensure you are fully aware of requirements, tips, and skills required for your target industry. It will also allow you to be aware of any changes in the industry that may affect your choice in entering it or what you may study. The future of work is uncertain, but networking gives you the information to predict and fool-proof your career.

While these reasons may motivate you as a highschooler to start networking, it is essential that you establish your personal reasons and goals you want to achieve while networking. Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself:

What is it that I want to gain when contacting this person?

What are my strongest qualities that I can showcase when networking?

What industry do I want to network in? What type of people?

These questions will help you identify your intentions, and will help remove the indecisiveness and confusion you might experience when first starting to network.

Practical tips for networking

After you determine your reasons and intentions, it is time to take action and start networking!

1. Building your brand

First impressions are important when it comes to networking. You need to be able to catch the attention of the person instantly. It all comes down to:

• How you introduce yourself
• Your tone
• What and how you ask your questions

Your introduction should be the summary of your best self.

When introducing yourself, start with your name, what your goal is, and what you hope to achieve from the networking you’re about to do. Here’s an example:

‘’Hello, my name is Sarah. Nice to meet you! I’m an aspiring software engineer. I’m hoping you could give me some advice on what skills I could equip myself with in order to enter the industry.’’

It’s short. It’s sweet. It establishes your intentions from the beginning.

Your tone should fit who you are speaking with.

Adopting different kinds of tones with different people can greatly impact their impression of you. An informal, friendly tone would work well with peers or close friends. It creates a sense of comfort and trust. A formal, intellectual tone is more favourable when talking to an industry expert. Impress them with technical vocabulary or your research of the industry.

The questions you ask should be meaningful.

It is helpful to list a few general questions to ask all those you meet, but be prepared to improvise. This is important as the last thing you want is to seem indecisive and under-prepared. Direct and confident questioning is what catches the listener’s attention. A good example of some good questioning is . While he takes on more of an interviewing role, his confidence and tone is something that can definitely be used when networking.

2. Be curious

When networking, being curious and asking questions is essential. Pick at every detail a person gives you and ask for elaboration. For example, if you asked an industry expert how they got into the industry they might say, “Oh, I interned at a company”. Now, as this answer does not provide a lot of insight, it is time to learn more! Try asking them some of the following follow-up questions:

What company did you intern at?

What were the requirements for the internship?

Who did you ask in order to find this internship?

You will notice that these follow up questions will generally utilise the simple words: who, what, when, where, and why. Asking questions that use all these words will ensure that you get detailed and accurate advice that you can easily apply.

Being curious creates a positive impression.

Asking questions bestows upon you the title of the ‘active listener’. The person who you are talking to then perceives you as someone who genuinely wants to learn and grow. This sincerity can be the difference between someone turning away and career-changing advice. However, it is important to note that there should be a balance between asking questions and allowing the person to speak. Your curiosity should be just enough to show interest while still not overwhelming who you’re talking to.

Cold messaging is the manifestation of your curiosity towards people online.

When it comes to leveraging curiosity while networking online, cold messaging is a great way to present your interests and questions to people you want to network with but have never had prior interaction with. This method is useful on platforms, such as LinkedIn, where you can conduct your research about a certain person, inquire, and investigate their areas of expertise. The cold messages you send should be representative of your curiosity and your willingness to connect with others.

Here are some guides on writing successful cold messages:

3. Start within your circle

The metaphorical circle is made up of all your existing friends, past friends, mentors, teachers, parents etc. This is your starting point.

Start simple. This is the easiest and most effective way to remove any previous fears or stigma you as a highschooler might have towards networking. It gives you the opportunity to get comfortable with the concept of initiating the conversation. Maybe try approaching your teacher in a field your interested in. Ask simple questions such as:

What do I require to enter this field? Do you have any advice on how to start out?

You might be surprised at how much information you may gain by just starting, even if it’s just with these basic questions.

Being in school doesn’t limit your ability to network. We often overlook the extensive network already at our hands as highschoolers. Your school offers you teachers with experience you can learn from, older students who understand your struggles, or even career counsellors who can direct you to people that may interest you. Have you ever thought of asking your parents, or your friend’s parents, about their careers? Do you now see the plethora of opportunities waiting to be taken advantage of?

4. Utilize digital platforms

With current technology, almost every school has some kind of digital platform that allows for communication between students and teachers. For example, at ����APP, we utilise Slack. This is a powerful tool to easily reach out to alumni, educators, and industry experts. It is understandable that some highschoolers may find talking to people in person intimidating.

That is okay.

Directly messaging a person online is way to overcome this. Also, it gives you the opportunity to conduct extensive research about a person, or reach out to people beyond those that you personally know using valuable tools such as LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is an amazing platform to showcase your work experience, and any career-related projects you have done. Publishing articles, organizing events related to your career, courses, and internships are all things that you as a high schooler can do to populate your account and kickstart your online network.

At SoH, we have great examples of current learners’ and alumni’s LinkedIn profiles. Here are a few examples:

Networking at SoH

At ����APP, networking is one of the many essential skills we as learners are taught about in order to be career ready. My first introduction to networking was in the school’s program where I learnt what it is, and the importance of establishing a network. It was where I was introduced to LinkedIn and its use, as well as the realisation that ����APP deliberately provides you with mentors, alumni, and industry experts that are perfect starting points for a learner’s networking journey. I was given the amazing opportunity of being in an environment open to questions and curiosity. I attended conferences that the school participated in and made many valuable connections. If you’re a current learner at SoH or an alumni, use this extensive network.

As a highschooler, it is essential to start early so that you can reap the benefits early. As you can see, networking is not something limited to workers in corporate jobs, or even newly graduated college students. You can do it too. All that is left is to take that leap and ask that first question!