Many students assume networking is something they’ll worry about after university, when they’re looking for their first full-time job.
Lorene Phillips believes that is far too late.
The executive leadership consultant and founder of Clarendon Wallace, who has more than 25 years of leadership experience across Bermuda, London, the United States and Europe, says students applying for scholarships should already be thinking about building professional relationships.
It is advice that comes from experience. She disliked networking early on in her career in the reinsurance industry.
“Like many professionals, I associated it with collecting business cards, making awkward small talk and pretending to be someone I was not,” she said. “It felt transactional rather than relational or meaningful.”
It was only later that she realised she needed to think differently.
Today, Ms Phillips, a finalist in this year’s ISC Women’s Excellence Awards in the mentorship category, rarely uses the word “networking”. Instead, she prefers to talk about building relationships.
“I actually think Bermuda gives students an incredible advantage,” she said. “Our community is small enough that people are often only one or two introductions away from each other. That makes it easier to build genuine professional relationships, but it also means your reputation develops quickly.”
Students often think networking is about getting a job.
“I see it differently,” she said. “It’s about becoming known for your curiosity, professionalism and willingness to learn.”
For many students, introducing themselves to senior professionals can feel intimidating. Ms Phillips believes the trick is to stop worrying about making an impression and start thinking about what can be learnt instead.
“Remember that every experienced leader was once a student,” she said. “Instead of thinking, ‘I need to impress this person’, ask yourself, ‘I wonder what I can learn from them?’ Curiosity removes pressure and creates better conversations.”
She also believes students sometimes put too much emphasis on the number of people they know instead of the quality of those relationships.
“I would much rather see someone build ten meaningful professional relationships than have hundreds of LinkedIn connections they never speak to,” she said. “Quality trumps quantity. Relationship building is a marathon, not a sprint.”
That advice should come as welcome news to shyer students.
“You don’t need to become an extrovert. Some of the best relationship builders I work with are introverts because they ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully and make people feel genuinely heard,” she said.
“Powerful presence isn’t about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about making the person standing in front of you feel like they’re the most important person in the room.”
When students do reach out to professionals, whether by e-mail or LinkedIn, Ms Phillips recommends keeping messages personal and purposeful.
“Tell me why you’ve reached out specifically to me, what you’re hoping to learn and keep your message concise,” she said. “Professional communication is often your first impression. Make it count.”
Making the initial connection is only the beginning.
Ms Phillips recommends following up with a thank-you note, connecting on LinkedIn with a personalised invitation and making an effort to stay in touch.
“Relationship building isn’t an event,” she said. “It’s a lifelong professional practice.”
She also encourages students not to overlook the people they already know.
“So often we have a network already in place and we just don’t realise,” she said. “Family, teachers, family friends and community leaders can all become valuable introductions. The people we already know are ‘warm’ contacts and therefore quicker to make a referral or share a job opportunity with you that may open the door, but your preparation and professionalism determine what happens next.”
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the workplace, Ms Phillips believes communication, curiosity, initiative and the ability to build genuine professional relationships will become increasingly valuable.
Her advice is to start developing those skills now.
“Your professional reputation begins long before your first full-time job.”
