Walking into my first day of class for my postgraduate PR program, I remember feeling a wave of nervousness and excitement fill the air. Our instructor quickly ushered for the classes’ attention, kicking things off with an introduction — a photo of a grad appeared on the projector screen. She assured us that in eight short months, we would have all the skills and training we needed to embark on our own journey in the PR world.
As we moved on to the next slide, our instructor left us with some important advice — “be a B+ student and an A+ networker.” Although we were certain to gain a lot of knowledge and tools in the classroom, she urged us to seek out professional development opportunities beyond those four walls.
Since that day, I’ve tried my best to live by her advice and want to share insights about how networking can benefit other students as well.
Here are five reasons to start networking:
It creates a sense of belonging to a community
When you first start attending events and scheduling meetings, it’s easy to feel like a stranger behind the glass window looking in. Over time, this fear will dispel as your networking confidence grows. Most industry professionals are more than willing to provide honest answers, share words of advice and squash fears.
Through networking you can build meaningful connections. While the industry feels large at times and there’s a lot to discover, it’s nice having people rooting for you, who genuinely want you to succeed.
It reminds you learning is lifelong and opportunities are endless
Hearing others speak about their most profound realizations, memorable moments and turning points during their careers can remind you that everything will be alright. Often the best experiences happen unexpectedly and uncertainty is what keeps you excited, on your toes and ready to take on the world.
Even if it might look a little different from those around you, the beauty of PR lies in its versatility and potential to navigate uncharted territory. The best practitioners are ones who are always learning and unlearning.
It opens a lot of new doors
Like anything good in life, putting yourself out there and giving a little can give you so much in return. From volunteer opportunities to freelance work and personal relationships, investing time to explore and see what’s out there, can open a lot of doors for your future. Networking connects you to invaluable allies, provides countless resources and prepares you to shift gears for the working world.
It provides a forum to realize and reflect on your own understanding
There are some lessons you can only really learn outside the classroom and networking is definitely one of them. Being in the company of professionals in the areas of journalism, marketing and analytics can provide depth your understanding and encourage you to wear different thinking caps.
Examining things through another lens shows you how PR can enhance and lift up so many other aspects of the world out there. Our challenge is to creatively tell those stories, build credibility with our audiences, and write the narratives by embedding ourselves into the conversation.
It gives you a taste for what’s next
Being a student comes with its fair share of challenges, and at times it can feel like your task-list is never-ending. Stepping outside your daily routine and walking through the doors of a brightly lit space toward friendly faces is the best motivation out there. During the weeks where you are looking for a light at the end of the tunnel, opportunities to change the pace can reset the mind and inspire you. Leading a thoughtful conversation or making a new acquaintance helps to throw some glitter into the air and anticipate what lies ahead.
Personally, I am so grateful for organizations like CPRS Toronto who work tirelessly to put on so many incredible learning experiences. I wholeheartedly recommend anyone interested to check them out — hopefully I’ll see you at the next one!
Written by James King, Student Volunteer, CPRS Toronto
James King is a postgraduate certificate student at Humber College studying in the public relations program and an avid CPRS Toronto student member. He enjoys reading a heartwarming book, capturing countless photos and savouring a good cup of coffee.