Get out and meet people. Go to every possible business speaker event. Talk with the speaker afterward. Ask interesting questions about his or her talk. Get that person’s business card. Follow up with an email thanking them and asking another pertinent question or two. Join relevant business clubs on campus. Get involved. When businesspeople come to campus, volunteer to greet them and buy them a cup of coffee before or afterward.

Do everything you can to expand your network.

All these actions increase the likelihood that you'll meet that person who knows about the job that would be ideal for you. And, by the way, your life on campus will be more enjoyable and interesting, too.

Business relationships exist for the purpose of conducting business. You are not abusing a relationship as long as there is no deception as to the purpose of the relationship.

One way to wrap up is to challenge the students to keep thinking about it:
> Networking is important—very important. In some ways, for the purposes of getting a job, developing a good network is more important than your GPA. Look how much time you put into your GPA. Just put some of that time into building your network.
> Network building is, by the way, a lifelong activity.
It may be that some relationships you build here on campus will pay dividends many years down the road.
®» Think seriously about these ideas. Discuss them with your friends. Determine what you believe about the relative importance of knowledge and networks.
When is one more important than the other?
> Again, it’s your life, your career. I’m just trying to coach you into behaviors that will help you become a successful business professional. Give it some thought!
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