10 Networking Tips for Students and Graduates

Networking is vital for students and graduates as it lays the foundation for future career prospects, employment, research opportunities and general insights into the medical field. Networking is also crucial for connecting with mentors and senior colleagues who can write recommendation letters for your medical school applications or recommend you for research positions.

Importantly, personal connections are often key to breaking through the social noise, AI and automated bots, which increasingly dominate the application and employment landscape. Follow these ten tips below to maximize your networking efforts.

Teaching professors enjoy seeing their students succeed and will help you reach your goals. That’s why building good rapport with your professors is so important. From day one, invest your time and effort into demonstrating your curiosity, desire to learn and commitment to scholarship.

Faculty at Columbia University’s Institute of Human Nutrition are dedicated to building long-lasting relationships with their students. On their part, students have ample opportunities to interact with their teachers, attend office hours and exchange ideas. “'I joined IHN to help me on my path to becoming a doctor, and found a group of people passionate about nutrition, health, society, science, and community,” says alumni Joshua Marr, now a medical doctor. “The faculty's passion for teaching is inspiring and their example has made me a better doctor.”

2. Pursue research opportunities

Engaging in research allows one to enhance their scientific knowledge, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It also creates opportunities to meet medical students, physicians, scientists or post-doctoral researchers, all of whom represent valuable connections in the field.

During Columbia’s one-year Master's in Human Nutrition program, students have many opportunities to engage in research, from publishing papers to working on their thesis. Students can choose to pursue their specific topics of interest working closely with faculty and their mentors while making valuable connections with other players in the medical field.

3. Attend conferences

Conferences are terrific opportunities to meet and interact with your peers, senior colleagues and industry representatives. Conferences are also great forums to exchange ideas, learn about career prospects and partake in workshops offered by experts to learn new skills.

The process of researching, writing and publishing a scientific paper involves working with other researchers, peers and mentors, all of which can become important connections and future collaborators. Publications make students more competitive for residency programs and future academic positions. Being published also boosts your professional credentials and draws attention to your name.

At Columbia’s IHN program, students work with their peers and mentors to publish their research. Student papershave appeared in many prestigious journals, including Journal of Nutrition, ScienceDirect, Journal of Obesity, Gastroenterology, Advanced Nutritionand other outlets.

5. Build out your LinkedIn profile

Social platforms enable you to showcase your accomplishments, skills and aspirations to a broader audience. They allow you to reach out to scholars whose research you are interested in, find collaborators for projects, and connect with people you may not be able to meet in real life. 

On LinkedIn you can join professional groups, attend virtual events and create and share content to draw attention to your published research, clinical experience or awards. You can also proactively reach out to attendees and speakers at medical conferences you’re planning to attend. As you build out your LinkedIn outreach, you’ll also increase your visibility to employers.  

Online networking offers many benefits, particular for those with busy schedules. Web-based forums and communities are places where people share experiences, exchange study tips and exam-prepping techniques, seek guidance on career paths as well as find and offer emotional support. Online platforms help students feel more connected with the broader medical community and help build robust virtual networks and relationships over time.

Medical practice relies heavily on teamwork, so interacting with peers prepares students for future collaborative roles and helps build the much-needed networks. Additionally, socializing with your fellow students fosters the exchange of ideas and builds varied perspectives. Columbia’s IHN program includes time for social occasions where students have the opportunity to interact with each other—as well as with their faculty and advisors. These events including departments’ socials, advisor lunches and other occasions.

8. Partake in volunteer work

Volunteering allows you interact and forge strong relationships with other medical professionals. Volunteering in healthcare and community settings also exposes one to different cultures and traditions—and builds stronger, wide-reaching networks.

During Columbia’s Master's in Human Nutrition program, students can volunteer at the IHN Food Co-op where they can partake in different initiatives. Students can volunteer with Mom and Me, a project that helps underserved parents and babies navigate the resources necessary for children’s optimal growth and development. Students can also support local urban farms which grow crops in the areas considered to be food deserts, allowing for community's self-sufficiency. And they can engage with the Chinese Heritage and Identity through Food And Nutrition (CHIFAN)—a project piloted by an IHN alumna in a small preschool that educates Chinese-American youth about the significance of cultural foods and nutrition.

9. Seek mentorship

Succeeding in the medial field can be challenging, so consider finding a mentor who you can reach out for guidance and support. That could be a senior colleague or a professor whose class you have enjoyed. Mentors help students navigate the complexities of medical education and build strong networks. They can also make professional introductions and provide recommendation letters.  

At Columbia IHN master’s program each student has an assigned mentor who oversees their master thesis at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Mentors also guide students throughout the program, discuss their professional interests and make suggestions on what next steps may be. Many students stay in touch with their mentors after they graduate.

10. Add clinical experience to your resume

Shadowing physicians in clinical settings not only allows you to get hands-on real-life experience, but also helps build relationships with other medical professionals. As you carve your own path, these trusted individuals may offer guidance, share insights or inform you of clinical or research opportunities.

Columbia University’s IHN master's program offers opportunities for clinical observations through classes, research and clinical guest lectures. Students regularly work with their assigned mentors at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, gaining valuable clinical exposure while also building their professional networks.

Conclusion

Networking is crucial for building professional relationships, accessing opportunities, applying to medical school or pursuing a research career. The leadership at Columbia Institute of Human Nutrition recognizes the importance of professional relationships, offering ways to build robust networks via volunteering, conferences, social events and human connection. “We understand that networking is key for success,” says Kim Hekimian, PhD, Director of the IHN’s Master of Science in Nutrition program. “Our faculty make a very intentional effort to help students build their support systems.”

Curious about the program? Visit the application page to learn more.