Networking Tips
Networking & relationship building hub
Learn how to build meaningful, authentic connections with industry professionals, whether you’re reaching out on LinkedIn, attending your first conference or networking event.
We provide practical guidance on initiating conversations without feeling awkward, asking insightful questions that leave a lasting impression, and nurturing relationships over time. You’ll also find direct outreach message templates, follow-up scripts, and real-world conversation frameworks to help you turn casual interactions into long-term career mentorship.
Looking for a mentor? Read our Mentorship guide in Engage.
1 The mindset: curious, not transactional
Most students dread networking because it feels like asking strangers for favors. Flip the script: networking is simply research driven by genuine curiosity.
Sustainability professionals are notoriously mission-driven and almost always keen to pay it forward to the next generation provided you respect their time and show genuine interest in their specific corner of the sector.
| Transactional networking | Authentic networking |
|---|---|
| Asking for a job or referral in your first message | Asking about their career trajectory, challenges, and sector shifts |
| Blasting generic messages to 50 people | Reaching out to 5 people whose work genuinely fascinates you |
| Disappearing once an event ends | Sending a thoughtful follow-up noting a specific insight they shared |
| Treating the contact like a transaction | Treating the contact like a future peer or mentor |
2 In-person playbook: conferences, panels & career fairs
Attending your first industry summit or campus green fair can feel overwhelming. Use these tested strategies to navigate the room with confidence.
Breaking the ice without feeling awkward
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The post-panel approach
Instead of waiting in a 20-person queue with generic praise, wait until the rush clears, then reference a specific point:
“Hi [Name], your point about the tension between biodiversity metrics and carbon offsets really stood out to me. I'm currently finishing my dissertation on ecological economics, how do you see that playing out in practical corporate reporting?”
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The coffee queue opener
“Hi, are you enjoying the summit so far? What session has challenged your thinking the most today?”
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The open-circle entry
Spot two or three people standing in an open stance, make eye contact, smile, and step in:
“Mind if I join you? I'm curious to hear what brought everyone to this event.”
High-impact questions that make you memorable
Skip “What does your company do?” (you can Google that). Instead, ask questions that invite honest reflection:
- “What is a persistent bottleneck in your day-to-day role that outsiders rarely realize?”
- “Looking back at your transition from university into sustainability consulting, what technical skill do you wish you had built earlier?”
- “With EU/UK reporting standards shifting so fast, where are you seeing the biggest hiring need on your team right now?”
3 Digital outreach: cold message templates that actually get replies
When messaging on LinkedIn or email, brevity and personalisation are everything. Aim for under 100 words.
4 Following up
Most students think networking ends the moment you hang up a Zoom call or walk away from a coffee chat. In reality, that first conversation is only 20% of the work.
Senior professionals take calls with dozens of eager students every year. What separates the 95% who are forgotten from the 5% who get introduced to hiring managers, offered project opportunities, and taken on as mentees? Closing the loop.
Mentors invest in people who take action. When someone offers advice, their biggest reward is seeing that their time actually changed your trajectory. Use this step-by-step roadmap to build genuine, lasting professional relationships.
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Day 0
The conversation
The moment you step away from the call or event, open your notes app and write down three specific things:
- The core adviceWhat framework, tool, certification, or author did they recommend?
- Personal anecdotesDid they mention any relevant projects, or details about their personal lives?
- Open threadsDid they say, “Let me know what you think of that report” or “Check out that firm's latest circularity pilot”?
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Day 1
The 24-hour thank-you note
Send a brief, authentic note within 24 hours via the channel where you originally communicated (LinkedIn or email).
The golden rule: never send a generic “Thanks for your time, it was very insightful.” Reference a specific takeaway so they know you were actively listening rather than waiting for your turn to speak.
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Weeks 3–4
The action update (where true mentorship starts)
This is the single most underused tactic by university students and it works to help demonstrate your initiative and accountability toward your own actions and learning. When you send this update, you immediately stand out as an executor, not just a talker.
- What to shareYou read the whitepaper, took the short online course, applied to that program, or spoke with the contact they suggested.
- Keep the pressure offDo not ask for another meeting or a job referral here. Simply share progress.
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Months 3–6
The low-touch check-in
Once you reach this stage, the connection is warm. You are no longer a stranger who cold-messaged them; you are a promising young professional whose journey they are quietly invested in. Check in 2 to 3 times a year using one of three natural touchpoints:
When to ask about jobs
You should only explicitly ask if there are vacancies once you have established rapport, demonstrated relevance, or received a clear opening from the other person. Asking too early makes the interaction feel purely transactional and triggers an automatic defensive response (often a redirect to an impersonal HR portal).
If there is clear rapport after several conversations, you could word the ask in the following way:
“I’ve really enjoyed learning about how your team approaches [Topic]. As I’m graduating this summer and actively targeting roles in this niche, do you know if your group, or a team you work closely with, plans to bring on entry-level analysts in the coming months?”
You can also ask if there is an opening to do so from conversations, for example if the person mentions team growth or workload:
“It sounds like the practice is growing fast! With that influx of work, are you anticipating bringing on any graduate or junior support to help manage the pipeline?”