Getting Ready for Professional Relationships
Going to university isn’t just ‘more school’. It’s an important part of pursuing your career goals. The people you meet at uni can impact your academic and professional development. They can open the door to career opportunities. Even if you aren’t thinking about the world of work quite yet, nurturing the professional relationships you find at university can pay off before and after you graduate.
So, what do we mean by ‘professional relationships’? A professional relationship is different from being ‘friends’, although it’s easiest to develop them if you are friendly. This means being pleasant, approachable, and showing interest in other people. Professional behaviour includes using appropriate methods and types of communication, respecting others’ boundaries, being reliable (that is, doing what you say you will), and taking responsibility for your actions and mistakes.
Who can you expect to build professional relationships with in university? Honestly, the real answer is everybody. From fellow students, to lecturers, tutors, and professional staff members, the only real limit is your desire and interest. Today, we’ll focus on professional relationships with your lecturers and tutors as useful examples to get you started.
Lecturers and tutors are far more than just the people leading the classes you attend. They hold knowledge, experience, and connections that can help you develop as a person, grow in your field of interest, and make new connections. Having a good relationship with teaching staff can help you get better academic support. If you have a good rapport with your lecturer, you are likely to feel more comfortable asking questions or speaking up when you’re struggling. Students who don’t reach out for this kind of support are far less likely to receive it.
Being known by academic staff can also mean you hear about relevant academic opportunities that may not be widely advertised. These can include research assistant positions, internships, volunteering opportunities, conferences, student competitions, and postgraduate study opportunities.
When you’re ready to think about applying for jobs, extracurricular opportunities, or perhaps for postgraduate studies, you’ll need someone to provide a reference for you. Students can ask teachers and lecturers to serve as reference for summer fieldwork opportunities and for employment applications. They can provide these references to students who engaged well in class and with whom they have developed a good professional relationship.
Okay, now you know why developing professional relationships in university is a good idea, but how do you get started? We have a few simple tips to help you out. The most basic thing you can do is to learn your lecturer or tutor’s name. Some people will have names that you are less familiar with. It is important to make the effort to learn to say people’s names correctly as it shows respect for that person. Also, being addressed by name is an easy way to be friendly.
The next step is to participate in class. Now, we understand that not everyone is comfortable speaking in front of a large room of people, but you don’t have to become the person who always speaks up in class. If you can find a moment here and there to ask a thoughtful question, give an example, respond to another student’s point, or participate in group discussions, these are all behaviours that your lecturer or tutor will notice, and which will help build your professional reputation with them.
Another great way to build a professional relationship with a lecturer is to attend office hours. These are excellent opportunities to get one-on-one time with your lecturer, whether you want to ask about course content or discuss future career or study opportunities. If you aren’t familiar with office hours, you can read more about them here. Engaging with Office hours can provide you with years long professional relationships, especially if you stay within the academic sphere. They also give you a great space to ask for advice about further study and other academic related topics.
The way you communicate with your lecturers and tutors can also impact your professional relationship with them. Professional communication is different from how you might communicate with your friends or family members. We have more information on how to send effective emails to lecturers and tutors available here.
We’ve talked about how helpful it can be to develop a professional relationship but be aware that having one isn’t just about what you can get out of the other person. They are based on continued engagement over time, not just popping in when you want them to do something. The last thing you want to do is walk into a lecturer’s office and ask for a reference after being their student for a year (or longer) and having never communicated with them directly before. The goal is to develop genuine, respectful connections with members of your academic community.
If all this sounds like a bit much, there are three things you can do to break the ice:
First, introduce yourself to one lecturer or tutor after class.
Second, attend one office hour or ask a thoughtful question after a lecture or tutorial.
Third, identify one person at your university whose career or research interests you and find out more about what they do.
Remember, you don’t need hundreds of contacts. You want genuine connections. Start by getting to know the people who are already part of your university experience.
