For most students, parents, and guardians around the world, the Ultimate goal is to wear a gown at the end of university, thinking it’s the end. But here is the truth: that is just the beginning of a whole new chapter. While the degree is very important as it can be used as a symbol of status in society, it doesn’t fully guarantee success.
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The friends and relationships we develop at Compass tend to be equally as important as the degree itself. In life, most of the opportunities flow through people; you can be sharing a conversation with your next boss unknowingly so when you go ahead to network, you can open up to better opportunities.
In this article, we are going to share the role of networking both at Compass and life after Compass.
1. The Core Value of Networking
A college degree grants you access to information about a specific career, for example, engineering, but it’s the network you have built that connects you to opportunities. In today’s modern world, employers are no longer focusing so much on grades, as everyone can learn. They tend to pay more attention to sectors like communication skills, problem-solving, and idea formation.
Networking, for example, going to seminars and different fellowships, is how you can get noticed outside your academic life. People get time to interact with you and strengthen their social life.
Case Study
Consider two students, “Sam” and “Michael”. These two lads studied a Bachelor’s in Accounting. Sam used to attend Finance seminars every last weekend of the month and interacted with new people like managers, accountants, etc. On the other hand, Michael stayed at the Hostel. Both Michael and Sam scored a first-class degree, but Sam acquired employment immediately, whereas it took Michael 2 years with his good grades. Knowledge may get you in a room, but connections keep you inside the room.
2. People are as important as Papers or even more
Many students are wired to think that opportunities come more from grades. Although this is true, the role of people cannot go unnoticed. Most of the beautiful and highly rewarding opportunities go unposted sometimes. Instead, they are advertised internally, through personal recommendations, or by word of mouth, to get people to fill the vacancies. This means that if you know the right community, the opportunity can get to you.
Case Study
When I was doing my internship at the University, acquiring a placement was so hard as my application got rejected many times. I contacted an alumnus to help find me a place, and he gave me the manager of Sugar Copeartion of Lugazi’s number, and I was able to secure my spot. This means that my journey for getting the spot would have been a lot harder if I did not have the right people in my circle.
3. Building Reputations
After compass, some choose to continue with studies, others deviate from their courses of study, whereas others go on to practice what they have studied. All these next steps require a good identity and personality. Networking gives you the opportunity to define yourself in front of others. By collaborating with fellow students on project work, you are identified as the supportive one. When you solve a problem, you are identified as a problem solver.
In case of any opportunity surfacing, your group members or fellow students and lecturers will highly recommend you. This is because people recommend the ones they know. Hence, you can use networking the right way as a shortcut to opportunities.
4. Study beyond the class walls
Education in the classroom equips you with theoretical knowledge, but meeting up with different people, e.g., meteors, gives you different kinds of perspectives on different subjects of life, like work, career, hobbies, and how to manage setbacks. This is a return that broadens your own perspective on life in general.
Example
Nakawungu Esther, a fresher at CoCis, attended the Freshers Orientation at the Freedom Square. During her time there, she was able to make friends with freshers from different colleges. During her different interactions, she says, she learnt a lot about what happens at different hostels and got to know about the different courses and the opportunities that can come out of studying them.
5. Networking Builds Confidence and Communication Skills
Networking at all levels is a personal growth developer and accelerator. This helps us move from our comfort zones to growth zones. It’s not easy walking up to strangers randomly and holding conversations. But with continued practice, it boosts our personal confidence and improves our communication and public speaking skills. These skills help us interact better in interview periods, and also when sharing with others.
Other Examples
A student called “RICNIC” opened his clothing brand during his university days, and his first customers were his college mates. These grew into his long-term clients, and its possible because of the network.
Another student got a job before Compass because he was recommended by his friend, whose Uncle was in need of an employee.
Conclusion
After University, the degree makes us feel good and successful. But what is also very important are the people we have met along the way, lecturers, classmates, internship spots, etc. When used well, the networks we engage in can either create or destroy us. During your time at University, utilize it to create meaningful relationships and a network that will grow with you. If you find this article helpful, drop a comment and share it with your friends.
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