Joining the workforce right after college is a huge transition. Sharing some habits that help build a professional environment.

Degrees may open doors. Skills may get interviews. Relationships often shape long-term careers.

Networking is often mistaken to be about collecting contacts.

Networking at work is often just people from very different backgrounds learning how to work alongside each other respectfully and comfortably. It is about becoming someone people genuinely enjoy working with.

A simple conversation at the water cooler or cafeteria can open up a world of opportunities. Meetings are usually held in meeting rooms, over video calls, where there is an expectation for us to play a role, our role, the one we have been hired to perform at work. However, when we talk to someone at the water cooler or cafeteria, or in any informal setting, we keep our roles aside for a moment and speak as two people who are just humans trying to get something to drink or eat. We get to allow others to see us in a different light, without our roles, just as humans and we connect and converse with people.

When a woman leader attended her first leadership conference, she was surprised about the conversations during break, where everyone were talking casually about their children, work life balance, parents and their health challenges. The conversations were lighter and more real life than the ones in the room. When she re-entered the room after the break, she knew the others better, and smiles easily flowed. Collaborations and partnerships became easier.

Another example, when an extremely intelligent introverted student found it hard to make friends, he chose to push himself to attend one conference every month. He thought he would try to at least be in the presence of great minds and listen to what they converse. Along the way, he started enjoying the variety of foods in the conference and started meeting people who had common tastes. They started laughing and talking in closed circles and looked forward to the next one. Slowly, the group started becoming bigger and people wanted to join them in their discussions. He realized that they were just talking about what they felt comfortable with, and those topics gained audience – even senior professors and connecting with senior researches became easier.

Someone who was new to a country did not have many opportunities to connect and hone their networking skills. He chose to eat at a different joint every day to try different foods and ended up starting a conversation with the cashier and help! They smiled and connected and slowly his confidence to network increased, and he took up a Sales role over years.

Know your area of discomfort, and pinpoint one aspect of it that you would push yourself to overcome. Do not give reasons. Try to trigger a change to step outside of your comfort zone and engage in professional conversation.

Many of us only talk to others when we need something. Strong professional relationships are built before opportunities appear. Build trust when there is nothing to gain, and you will realize the returns much later.

Surprisingly, introverts have the tendency to build strong connections and networks, even if they are a few connections, they build ones that they can rely on long term.

If you are looking to network, develop your ability to “Listen”. Slowly expand it to respond thoughtfully during discussions or conversations. Train yourself to converse in such a manner that the conversations last longer. Remember, a conversation can last longer only if both parties remain interested over a period of time.

I remember a young girl wanted to impress her grandfather, who was a businessman, who was used to handling large gatherings. She wanted him to converse with her for 30 minutes being engaged and interested in the conversation, without him treating her as a child. She challenged herself, and started listening to him conducting his business meetings and observed how he conducted himself, the stance he took in meetings, how people around him responded, what he approved and disapproved. She then picked a topic for her to converse with him and was proud that he was fully engaged in the one on one conversation with her, as she was talking about how he plans ahead with all the technology changes happening around.

Sharing 20 things that you can do to start networking – whether you are a student or a trainee.

1. Sit in a different spot once in a while. New seats often lead to new conversations.
2. Learn one new person’s name every week and remember it.
3. Stay back for 5 minutes after an event instead of leaving immediately, and talk to those who stay back.
4. Ask people what they are working on, most of them enjoy sharing their interests.
5. Join one club, committee, or volunteer activity outside your usual circle.
6. Be the first one to greet “good morning” sometimes. Small consistency builds familiarity.
7. Find out who are your peers and plan an activity with them.
8. Eat lunch with different groups occasionally instead of the same circle daily.
9. Keep your camera on during virtual introductions when possible, as visibility matters.
10. Follow up with a simple message, like “I enjoyed talking with you today.”
11. Attend workshops even when they are not directly related to your major or role.
12. Compliment effort, ideas, or teamwork sincerely.
13. Introduce two people who may benefit from knowing each other.
14. Be curious about careers outside your own field. Opportunity often comes from unexpected places.
15. Listen fully before trying to impress people with your own story.
16. Participate consistently, even quietly — familiar faces become trusted faces.
17. Ask seniors or coworkers, “What do you wish you knew earlier?”
18. Keep your online presence professional and approachable. People often look you up later.
19. Thank mentors, professors, managers, and teammates after projects or guidance. Gratitude is memorable.
20. Don’t network only when you need something. Build relationships during ordinary days

One helpful conversation, one mentor, one supportive colleague, or one manager who trusts your work can completely change your professional journey!