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Our top 7 tips for how to build your network at ANU
Networks can give you one-of-a-kind opportunities. Working towards a postgraduate qualification at The Australian National University (ANU) is an excellent way to expand yours.
Overview
- Building your network is a great way to move ahead in your career.
- There are plenty of networking opportunities at ANU, such as the Career Connect Fair.
- With the University in Australia’s capital, there are great internship opportunities you can’t get anywhere else.
For starters, postgraduate study can put you among people with more experience, like renowned academics, researchers, employers and influential alumni. Now, that’s good company. You can cross paths with them at meet and greets, boot camps, training sessions and special events.
Networking connects information and knowledge and can even help build your reputation. Let’s say you bump into someone on campus you heard giving a talk the night before and chat about your research in this area. You never know; this conversation could alter your career.
If schmoozing in this way sounds a little intimidating, let us reassure you. Networking in an exciting learning program can be a natural part of your development – and a two-way street. While you want to build connections and share your knowledge with people who interest you, they will want to do the same with you.
Can ‘who you know’ get you even closer to your calling? Follow our top seven networking tips to find out.
Building your network is one of the best ways to get ahead in your career.
1. Talk with employers
Each year, we will invite you to the Career Connect fair, usually held in Semester 2. It brings industries and companies together on campus, so talk to them about work opportunities and add professional contacts to your address book.
There are special events all through the year to give you networking opportunities.
2. Intern in policy environments
Unique to ANU is a range of special internship programs that could see you working during semester breaks alongside politicians and their aides in the ACT Legislative Assembly, Parliament House or overseas in the United States Congress or Taiwanese government departments and agencies. Look out and apply for these as opportunities to grow your networks. Also, consider enrolling in one or two internship courses that explore non-policy disciplines.
3. Mingle with other researchers
Research success relies on connection and collaboration. Our Research and Innovation Services team provides higher degrees by research (HDR) students with training, fellowships and support. Activities that can see you mingling with a research crowd include boot camps, candidate inductions, ethics and integrity workshops, entrepreneurship opportunities and local innovation networks. Sign up for one of these training sessions and meet and greets whenever possible.
As well as events through the year, there are informal opportunities to network with fellow postgraduate students.
4. Study overseas
If you can take time from your other commitments, consider immersing yourself in language and culture and exploring different perspectives while gaining credit for your degree. At ANU, networking while studying abroad with one of our partner universities or travelling with your college during the summer break could see you adding valuable international experience to your resume.
5. Attend events
The University’s events are great opportunities to meet some of the world’s finest thinkers and other exciting people. Take a campus tour or attend author and artist talks, panel discussions, lectures and music ensemble performances. Don’t miss out on our many opportunities to converse with and expand your professional networks with these experts. You never know: they may also be looking for someone like you to fill out their contacts.
Joining a club or professional society will bring you closer to people with your interest and career.
6. Connect with alumni
Among ANU alumni are former Australian prime minister Dr Kevin Rudd AC, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Indonesia’s former foreign minister Dr Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa. And that’s without mentioning the musicians, comedians, CEOs, artists, authors and scientists who’ve studied here. Meet them at our events throughout the year. And after your graduation, become an active member of our international alumni communities.
7. Join a club or society
Whether you’re interested in the arts, languages, advocacy, physics or sports, there are student-run social, academic or cultural clubs or societies to join that will connect you with similar people.
If you study postgraduate at ANU, you’ll find so many chances to network and build your connections.
Now that you have our top 7 networking tips browse the ANU event calendar and start building your connections today and start building your connections today.
