“Networking is like muscle training. You repeat it a few times and then you get used to doing it,” declares Landmark Chambers law clerkRegan Ujara.

Regan figured this out when he was in his third year of studying law at AUT and started attending Employability and Career workshops. He quickly realised he needed to learn how to network properly if he wanted to find a good job.

“I was surprised finding a job required networking and I found it challenging at the beginning but I kept trying and it started to get much easier, particularly when I started to think about it like muscle training – the more you work at it, the better you get,” he says.

Now happily working as a law clerk at Landmark Chambers, Regan returned to AUT recently to help out at an alumni practice networking event. He says his main feedback to students who networked with him was to show their pace of talking and to try to relate to the person in front of them. 

Here are tips from Regan and other networking alumni.

8 networking tips from employers

1.Look the other person in the eye when you’re talking to them.

2.Smile and relax, stand straight – don’t jiggle around - and always give a firm handshake.

3.Figure out your transferable skills and what you have to offer and practise saying those skills out loud so it feels normal to talk about yourself to someone else.

4.Having an introduction or elevator pitch is really important. Gather your thoughts and think about how to introduce yourself before you begin.

5.But don’t just stick to your elevator pitch. Engage in conversation. Expand on your interests and things you’re passionate about and other topics when asked, but don’t monopolise the conversation. Talking about yourself the whole time is not networking (see No 6).

6.Ask the person you’re approaching about their job and their industry. Ask advice on what their organisation may be looking for in a graduate (but don’t demand a job!)

7. If you're a student with work experience outside of Aotearoa this is your opportunity to highlight your previous experiences and the transferable skills youhave already developed 

8. Practise, practise, practise. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Like Regan, most of us don’t find networking easy initially. That is why Employability and Careers encourages students to attend workshops on networking and elevator pitches (self-introduction), then go to career expos and employer presentations to practise how to network and start to engage with people outside of their immediate circles of family and friends.

Want to find out more?

Sign up here at Elab Online to register for a workshop, employer event, career expo or one-on-one appointment with an employability or career specialist. Workshops and appointments are offered online and in person.

Or visit us at the Employability Lab in WA202 on City Campus or make an appointment to meet one of us at North or South Campus.

We look forward to catching up with you soon and starting your networking journey!