4 relationship-building tips for international students

Building relationships, both professional and academic, is essential to opening more doors for opportunities. Luckily for international business students there are many opportunities to get involved and build a solid network at ASU's W. P. Carey School of Business.

Building relationships, both professional and academic, is essential to opening more doors for opportunities. Luckily, as a student here at W. P. Carey School of Business, there are many opportunities to get involved and build a solid network.

It could lead you to your first on-campus job and even your very first entry-level position in the business industry of your dreams! So let’s get out there and mingle!

1. Student orgs, student orgs, student orgs!

This cannot be said enough. Student organizations make it easy for you to join a group of students who share similar interests and passions. Research which groups interest you and become an ACTIVE member. Anyone can be a member but being active will make all the difference in building meaningful relationships.

2. Get to know your faculty.

Professors might seem scary but remember they are here to help you learn and share a passion for education. Visit office hours with questions about course content. If you don’t need to go to office hours, attend a faculty lunch and get to know them in a casual atmosphere. If you have plans for grad school or want to land a position, your relationship with faculty members can be very helpful.

3. Get a mentor. Be a mentor.

Successful people often credit their accomplishments with the help of their mentor. Oprah needed Barbara Walters and Mark Zuckerberg needed Steve Jobs. A mentor is someone experienced and willing to share their knowledge with someone up-and-coming. Lucky for you, W. P. Carey Mentorship Programs offer an exciting opportunity to connect with a peer and/or a professional.

3. Harness the power of LinkedIn.

This online, powerhouse of a network is a large key to successful relationship building. Follow ASU and tap into their alumni network. You can see where they work, what they do, and even what they majored in. Want to search based on the company you are interested in? You can do that too! Remember to cater the message to the professional you would like to connect with and learn more about the career that interests you.

This is also a great way to set up informational interviews. If you need help building a profile, W. P. Carey Career Services is here to help you.