Networking = learning, connecting, discovering, and giving back.

By Yuezhong Zheng

Networking in higher education and student affairs is important. It helps you make key connections, and it often gives you an advantage when it comes to hiring. However, when I first came to the U.S. as an international student and even when I was just starting off in higher education, networking was a very foreign and scary concept to me, and being an introvert doesn’t make any it better. I have gone to career fairs during college with a room full of dressed-up professionals, not knowing what to do. I have also ran away from networking events because I was too nervous and scared to say or do anything. I felt like I didn’t belong in the room. Over these years, I have gradually learned to see networking from a different perspective, after finding some of the most supportive mentors and advocates in my life through “networking”. I was able to break down this term to several things: learning, connecting, discovering, and giving back.

If you used to feel as scared as I once was about “networking”, maybe these words will resonate with you. If you are still unsure how to approach this whole networking thing, I hope my lessons would help shift your perspectives, even just for a little bit.

Networking is learning.  

I am a total introvert, and it doesn’t come natural to me to just reach out to strangers to set up an informational interview. Overtime, I started to see networking as a learning opportunity, rather than just a door to a job.  I started to position myself as a learner, as someone who wants to learn from more seasoned professionals in the field. As I came to this realization, networking become less scary for me, because I have been a student for most of my life so far and I can continue to do that easily. Networking can be scary, but learning is not. Learning is exciting, fulfilling, and rewarding.

Networking is connecting.   

My first two years in the U.S. as an international student was not easy. Transitioning into adulthood can be difficult, let alone being in a foreign country and speaking a new language. I had so much fear and anxiety about talking to people in big groups in English. However, I found connecting with people one-on-one a more natural and comfortable way for me. I had less fear about speaking slowly with just one person in front of me, and I enjoyed listening to people talking about things that they love.  I cherish every single opportunity I have had connecting with people, because I know that having connections in a country far away from home does not come easy, and I always feel grateful when people are willing to spend time with me. Because I cherish these opportunities, I always do my due diligence to follow up to keep the connection going.

Networking is discovering.  

As a history major during college, I did not know what I wanted to do after graduation. I loved taking history classes, but I was not ready for an intensive graduate study in history where I would be analyzing history rather than just learning about it. Thankfully, networking - sitting down with people and learning about what they do and what they love about it - has opened up a whole new world for me. Before College, I longed for a career in international development and non-profit management, the very reason why I chose William & Mary because it is close to the D.C. development scene.

I tried to pursue my dream by moving to D.C. and interning with non-profits and think tanks there, but I didn’t really enjoy what I was doing. I know I wanted to make a positive impact on people, but I wasn’t seeing the impact, at least not in a way that I had hoped for. After connecting with many colleagues in my organization, I realized that I enjoyed directly working with people, rather than working with databases (which was what I was doing at the time), and I prefer seeing the impact through my own eyes, rather than through reading long project reports.

Upon returning to campus after 8 months in D.C., I started an on-campus job as a student worker. Through chatting with my supervisor at the time, I learned that he got to work with students like me every day to help the campus get ready for various events and activities. I also learned that he saw the impact he had on students every single day. Then, one connection led to another, my conviction of supporting individuals on college campuses grew stronger and stronger through connecting with countless student affairs professionals around and beyond campus. Eventually, it led me to discover a career path in higher education and student affairs, a profession where I get to support students and help them flourish through my work. And yes, now I do get to see the impact of my work through the growth of my students every day.

If you are unsure about networking, maybe try thinking about how you might discover your dream career through connecting with people. It has led to mine, and maybe it will lead to yours too.

Networking is giving back.

If there’s one thing I learned from networking, it is that it’s a two-way interaction. You don’t just receive, you also give. Taking the time to learn about other people’s interests and professional needs would allow you to identify ways to give. For example, forwarding an interesting article to someone on a topic they are passionate about or connecting them with somebody in your network to help facilitate important conversations. This is a way of saying “I care about your professional goals and dreams” and “I have truly listened to what you said”. It is a way of saying “thank you for your time and here is what I can offer.”

I used to think that I couldn’t offer anything as an international student to my network, because the conversation in the past had always revolved around how many challenges we had and how much support we needed. I had put myself down so low, until my mentors started to ask about my opinions and my thoughts about their work. I am so grateful for those who have lifted me up over the years, and now I am sharing my one most important lesson with you here:

You always have something to offer, to give – no matter how young you are and how many years you have spent in the field. Your unique path and experience make you and your perspectives truly unique, and no one can take that away from you.

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I know I have just spent 1000+ words talking about networking, but I really don’t like this word. It still has a bad connotation for me until today and it still makes me nervous and anxious. Maybe it’s time for a switch, I’d rather call the same thing: learning, discovering, connecting, listening, and giving back. These words make a more gentle, more sincere, and kinder professional world.

Connect with me on LinkedIn, only if you are interested, of course. And I look forward to learning from you.

Bio of Yuezhong Zheng

Yuezhong is the Chinese Student Services Coordinator at the International Students and Scholars Center at Arizona State University, supporting the Chinese international student population at ASU through programming, advising, and advocacy. Before her role at ASU, she worked for the Global Scholars Program, a living-learning community focusing on global social justice issues, at the University of Michigan. Additionally, Yuezhong also has professional experience working with the Office of International Students and Scholars at Rice University as well as an international summer program at Stanford University.

She holds an M.A. in Higher Education, with a concentration in Student Access & Success, from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in History from the College of William & Mary. She is also the Chair-Elect for Commission for Global Dimensions of Student Development at ACPA.