Networking for students who aren't naturally outgoing: Building confidence and connections your way

Photo by The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash

By Leena Ravindra, second year BSc Pharmacology

When I started university, I hadn't given networking much thought, so the concept seemed intimidating. I imagined big rooms full of confident people who seemed to know exactly what they wanted to say, while I would be standing silently, not sure how to participate.

Since I'm not a typically social person, I assumed networking was only for extroverts. However, I've come to realise that it truly comes down to making connections with individuals who inspire you.

What I’ve learned about networking

Career advancement greatly benefits from networking, but it doesn't have to feel forced or transactional.

It's about building relationships that enable you to learn from others, explore potential career paths, and gain insight into other industries. Sometimes you can even discover a job path you want to pursue through a casual conversation.

Whether you're exploring career options, applying for internships, or preparing for graduate roles, networking can help:

• Discover opportunities that aren’t advertised
• Gain insights into industries and roles
• Learn from others’ experiences
• Build confidence and communication skills

Start small

My first step was attending talks and workshops run in the School of Life Sciences regarding career prospects. These smaller events felt calmer and more structured than crowded fairs. The more events I attended, the easier conversations became. I noticed that people liked talking about their experiences, and I didn’t need perfect questions.

With each event, I became more relaxed. Eventually, I found myself initiating conversations without worrying about saying the right thing.

Around this time, I also began looking up fields that I found interesting — from pharmaceutical research to science communication — and researching what those careers actually involved. Understanding different roles made conversations feel more natural because I had genuine curiosity and topics to bring up.

Experiences like volunteering, joining societies, attending cultural events such as Globe Café, and meeting students from different backgrounds also broadened my perspective. These weren’t traditional “networking events,” but they introduced me to people from a range of fields, industries, and life paths. Those casual interactions helped me build confidence and develop connections without the pressure.

Practical ways to build your confidence

Here are strategies that helped me, step by step:

• Prepare a simple introduction. Something like: “Hi, I’m a first-year pharmacology student exploring careers in pharma.”

• Use small goals. Talk to one new person or send one LinkedIn message per week

• Start online. Connect with alumni who studied at Nottingham and ask about their career journey. Try LinkedIn workshops or networking confidence sessions to build your skills gradually

• Book a one-to-one careers appointment to talk about how to network in a way that suits your personality

• Attend relaxed events. Career panels, school talks, and employer sessions help you ease in naturally.

• Follow up. A short LinkedIn message can turn a two-minute chat into a long-term connection.

These steps sound small, but they build confidence faster than you think.

Make networking work for you

Networking doesn’t need to look the same for everyone. You can connect through volunteering, student societies, workshops, cultural events, or even short conversations after class.

Choose the environments where you feel comfortable. Start with what feels manageable, not what feels expected.

Find out more about networking on our website both in person and online. Also read about Zak's experience of networking and Francesca's article on gaining media experience through networking.