As an EngSci student, you’ll have access to many networking and mentorship events and programs. Take advantage of these!
All of us have struggled with something in first year, from choosing which design team to join to what résumé template to use to problem-solving strategies for CIV102 problem sets to emailing professors for research positions. You can gain a lot of insights by talking to upper-years or alumni. Getting the right mentorship can open many doors. Regardless of the topic, there are tons of people who want to support you.
It’s important to reach out not only to potential mentors, but other people in industry or research, to help you form professional connections. Networking can open many doors from helping you found a startup with your classmates to landing that dream job.
Although it seems like a fancy term, networking can be extremely simple. Fundamentally, it’s just meeting people and getting to know each other a bit. It can be as simple as having a conversation at a professional event, in the Common Room, or anywhere else.
Networking with your peers is invaluable. In addition to forming long-lasting friendships, you can learn about the cool things your peers are up to. In the future, if one of your peers needs a teammate for a school project or a co-founder for a startup, they’ll remember to ask you.
Upper-year students (like your Blog Admins!) have navigated many of the same challenges you’re facing and can offer personalized advice. They’re usually just a text or quick chat away, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
If you’re looking for someone with a specific experience, LinkedIn is a great place to find them. You can also connect with alumni and current members of the U of T Engineering community through U of T Engineering CONNECT. If you’re involved in a design team or club, your team leads are another excellent source of guidance and advice.
