Why holiday networking matters for your career
By Karla Rockhold, Director of Alumni Career Engagement, OSU Alumni Association
As the season of gratitude and togetherness arrives, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the true spirit of giving — and one of the most impactful ways to give is by investing in your professional connections. Connections make careers, and the relationships you nurture during this season can bring rewards long into the future.
Here’s how to start nurturing your professional and personal connections during the holidays.
1. Add holiday warmth to your social media profiles
Refresh your online presence with seasonal charm. Snowflakes, festive colors or holiday lights can make your profile feel approachable and warm — bonus points if it reveals something about your interests or industry to help people know you better!
2. Post seasonal reflections
The end of the year is a natural time to look back on what you’ve achieved and think about your goals for the future. Why not share it? Post about how you’re making progress, your team’s successes or tips for staying motivated as the year wraps up. Sharing these thoughts can help you connect with others and show that you’re focused on your goals while staying personal.
3. Express gratitude to your network
People enjoy working with those who are appreciative and authentic. Take a moment to thank colleagues, mentors, clients or other professional contacts, publicly or privately. It doesn’t have to be extravagant — it just has to be sincere.
4. Join in on celebrations
The holidays are full of posts celebrating special moments and milestones, and commenting on these posts is a great way to strengthen connections and build goodwill within your network. Take time to engage with others' posts, leave positive comments and share some holiday cheer.
5. Send personalized holiday messages
Who do you most want to strengthen professional ties with in the year ahead? Reach out to a select few with a thoughtful message that recalls an experience you shared or expresses thanks.
6. Share how you’re giving back
If you’re participating in charitable events, volunteer work or supporting a cause for the holidays, share your efforts online. This not only shows your commitment to community and social responsibility, but it also connects you with like-minded professionals who share similar values.
7. Focus on giving, not getting
Asking for support is a part of networking, but relationships thrive when you also give without expectation. This holiday season, aim to build connections without asking for favors or making requests. You might tag someone in a post they’d find valuable, provide a LinkedIn recommendation for a colleague, offer to mentor a student on OSU Connections or suggest a great new podcast or recipe. These gestures, however small, show that you’re invested in your network’s success.
8. Host or join a holiday gathering
The season brings many events where you can connect professionally, from holiday coffee chats to year-end industry webcasts. Consider joining the OSU Alumni Association’s Ask Alumni webcasts, which offer wonderful opportunities to connect with alumni, students and friends while boosting your online networking presence and planning for next year.
» Dec. 10 | Maximizing LinkedIn with a Powerful Profile with Ellen Recko
» Dec. 18 | Expanding Your Network and Building Your Professional Brand with LinkedIn with Ellen Recko
» Jan. 16 | New Year, New You: Elevate Your Personal Brand for Career Success with Marcia Torres, ’01
» Jan. 22 | The Transition from College to Health Careers
» Jan. 23 | New Year, New Goals: How to Build a Roadmap for Your Best Life with Jeff Otis, ’90
As you connect with others during the holidays, keep in mind that these interactions can lead to long-term rewards. What you do now can help shape how your network sees you and open doors for exciting new opportunities in the future.
We at the OSU Alumni Association look forward to supporting your vibrant and prosperous future in 2025 and beyond. Visit our website to learn how the alumni career team can help or ask us your career-related questions. Happy holidays and Go Beavs!