If you鈥檙e interested in a career in business, you鈥檒l need to learn more than economics, marketing, and management techniques 鈥� you need to learn how to network. What is business networking? It鈥檚 simply making connections that can nurture your career, and there鈥檚 an art form to it. Whether you end up meeting a possible hiring manager or an entrepreneurial partner, every connection you make holds possibility.

Some people are natural networkers, but for others, it鈥檚 an acquired skill. The good news is the more you do it, the easier it gets 鈥� and if you鈥檙e driven to succeed in business, you鈥檒l be doing a lot of it.

We鈥檝e compiled some best practices and networking tips for students, so you know what to do and鈥攅qually important鈥攚hat not to do. Use this primer of business networking do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s to get ready to put yourself out there.

DO: Start Early

It鈥檚 never too soon to start networking. Even on your first day of your first year of business school, start building relationships at every opportunity. Look for like-minded peers and foster relationships. Accept every opportunity to meet with people in your chosen profession. Put out the word to friends and family, create student groups, and get to know your professors.

As you prepare for networking, you should start by building your personal brand. Think about what sets you apart and what you have to offer, be it a special skill, a cultural perspective, or just a great idea. Practice your 鈥渆levator pitch,鈥� or a 30-second speech for selling yourself and your qualifications for a particular job or opportunity.

DON鈥橳: Only Network With 鈥楬igher-Ups鈥�

Good networkers know how to play the long game. Not every person you meet is a job offer waiting to happen鈥� yet. You want to build connections that will benefit you throughout your career, and often that comes from creating relationships that may not have an immediate professional payoff.

That classmate might be the next big disrupter with a hot tech property or become an SVP of a big brand. Find people you respect now, and stay in touch for later.

DO: Create a LinkedIn Profile

Make it a priority to get your LinkedIn profile up and running. LinkedIn is the professional network, and you鈥檒l be expected to have a presence. It鈥檚 not just pervasively used by recruiters seeking talent, but it鈥檚 also a turnkey tool for job hunting and building out a wider network.

For a crash course in getting your LinkedIn going, we have a whole post on LinkedIn profile tips.

DON鈥橳: Be a Stalker

People need professional space in the same way they need personal space. When you follow up (and you should), do it through contact information you鈥檝e been given directly, or find the person on LinkedIn. If you鈥檙e looking for points of common interest, you can take a peek at someone鈥檚 other social media, but don鈥檛 make it weird. Bringing up someone鈥檚 kids or commenting on their vacation destinations can be intrusive and off-putting.

DO: Request an Introduction

Know somebody who knows somebody? Don鈥檛 be shy about asking for an introduction. Connections in common are great professional capital 鈥� use them!

Networking through your existing personal network can get you access you wouldn鈥檛 have on your own, and being vouched for is a priceless shortcut to making a great first impression. Remember to thank whoever does the introducing.

DON鈥橳: Get Too Personal

Avoid a common error many people make in professional conversations: don鈥檛 get too personal or overshare. When you network, remember this is a professional relationship you鈥檙e pursuing. Even if you really hit it off with someone, don鈥檛 let the conversation get too familiar. This doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 make small talk about the weather or share an anecdote about a recent trip. Just use your instincts in conversation and observe 鈥減ersonal鈥� space.

DO: Be an Active Listener

A good rule of thumb the first time you meet someone is to listen more than you speak. Not only does this demonstrate courtesy, but you learn more about a potential connection. Yes, you鈥檒l want to sell yourself and present your pitch, but make sure that鈥檚 all couched in two-way conversation.

Practice being present when you鈥檙e talking to someone new. And if you鈥檙e not good with names or faces, teach yourself how to use memory techniques like mnemonic devices. People are flattered when you remember them, and often turned off when you don鈥檛.

DON鈥橳: Be a Stranger

When someone becomes successful, lapsed friends and colleagues tend to come out of the woodwork. People notice if they only hear from you when you want something, or when their ship has come in. Don鈥檛 be a fair-weather friend; make sure to keep in loose touch not just when there鈥檚 something you need, but also when you have something to offer, even if that鈥檚 just a no-strings-attached congratulations on someone鈥檚 promotion or achievement.

DO: Network Everywhere

Yes, you should attend networking events, but elbows can be rubbed in almost any setting. In fact, making a connection outside of an event may help you stand out from the sea of hand-shakers at an organized meet-and-greet.

So next time you鈥檙e on a cross-country flight or waiting at the DMV, strike up a conversation. You never know who might be sitting right next to you. And even if it鈥檚 not a professional connection, it鈥檚 great practice for your people skills.

DON鈥橳: Get Discouraged

We mentioned networking is a long game, and it sometimes requires patience. It鈥檚 also, to some degree, about volume. Meet as many people as often as you reasonably can. If you haven鈥檛 seen practical returns on all your networking efforts yet, hang in there. Keep at it, and keep in touch with those you鈥檝e met so far. Someone you met a year ago might pop up in your inbox tomorrow, or someone you meet next week might be an instant click.

DO: Pay It Forward

If you鈥檝e been offered opportunities by others, make sure you do the same when you鈥檙e in the position to do so. This applies even before you鈥檙e established; for example, let鈥檚 say one of your connections has an opportunity you鈥檙e not quite right for, but you know someone who is. Help them bot out with a referral. People in business have long memories for favors, and a reputation as a generous colleague will pay for itself.

DON鈥橳: Lie About Your Background

Play up your experience, but don鈥檛 make up your experience. This is for your own good. As you start to network over time, your connections will begin to overlap. If you have been lying or exaggerating about past jobs or education, eventually you鈥檒l get caught. Someone will know someone who worked at the same company or went to the same school, and you鈥檒l be left with a broken connection and a damaged reputation.

DO: Follow Up

When a networking opportunity leads to an exchange of contact information, consider it an invitation to follow up. A follow-up is often expected, so don鈥檛 squander the opening. Reach out within a few days to reconnect and continue the conversation. Remember to keep your outreach friendly, brief, and reference what you discussed when you first met.

Now Get Yourself Out There!

The biggest 鈥淒O鈥� in networking is, well, doing it. Now that you have your etiquette down, start making those connections. Use every channel available, from LinkedIn to networking events to Friendsgiving dinner. Be brave, be bold, stand out. And stick with it!

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WCU provides career guidance and assistance but cannot guarantee employment. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or position of the school or of any instructor or student.