Build a Network: Networking for Architecture Students and Architects

Networking is about something other than going to conferences, events and get-togethers to hand out your Behance links and business cards.

Networking is about something other than going to conferences, events and get-togethers to hand out your Behance links and business cards. Instead, it's about building genuine relationships and connections with people so they genuinely want to mentor or guide you to get ahead.

The fundamental purpose of creating a network of people is to introduce yourself and your work to other people in the profession, especially in the construction industry today it plays a significant role. Creating a network of people is a skill to have.

The advantages of having a network are

1. You have the opportunity to meet many people from your design area or other areas during your network of people’s efforts. Thus making these people potential clients.

2. You get a chance to introduce your brand, to many people from your design area or others such that the awareness of the brand increases.

3. You get up to date on the knowledge and experience something new while networking with your design area as well as other areas.

Here are a few strategies to up your networking skills;

Be Genuine

Don’t be superficial while building a connection. Building connections is not only for your professional gain, building genuine friendships serves better.

Networking by associations can get you so far, references from friends, family or people who know you through your social networks. LinkedIn is an excellent tool for these kinds of connections and for getting acquainted with influential people in the industry.

Give Back

Don’t be self-obsessed when it comes to networking, rather than always thinking about what people can give you also think about what you can offer people. You will get far more back when there is an exchange.

Volunteering is one of the ways you can give back with your skills, you have a difference of opinion but you will get back so much with respect to your skills.

Knowledge sharing

Knowledge sharing gives you an edge, share your process, project or any resources that you come across. It is a great way to introduce your name to the industry and beyond. Eventually, you will build authority over the online and offline world.

Public speaking 

Be you are at the entry-level or any level in your career networking entirely is about selling your skills. Public speaking is a skill that comes with practice and anyone can learn it.

Join a professional organisation

As Indian Architects we are already part of a professional organization Council of Architecture, there are other organizations and chapters that you can also be part of. Through this, you will be able to build a network.

Attend industry events and conferences

During college, all of us would have been part of the inter-college symposiums and events. As professionals similarly you have to engage and attend events to build your contacts. Just attending is not enough you have to put yourself out there and have conversation, knowledge share and establish a connection, which can be further built into a network.

Leverage social media

In the era that we live in social media acts as a medium to build unthinkable connections across boundaries. Share your work, explore others' work, share knowledge, and be genuine and it will take you to places.

Keep an open mind

Having a goal matters but what matters more is having an open mind. Go with an open mind, have conversations, and enjoy yourself and the company of others. Establish a good vibe and let the connection flow.

Just do it.

Just do it, as Nike says. There is a deeper meaning to it, it doesn't matter if you end up not building even one connection the effort and the progress that you did it wants matters.

As you put yourself out there you will build your skills and it gets better every time.

Enjoy Networking.