Skip to Main Content
HBS Online
  • Courses
    Open Courses Mega Menu
    • Business Essentials
      • Credential of Readiness (CORe)
      • Business Analytics
      • Economics for Managers
      • Financial Accounting
    • Leadership & Management
      • Leadership Principles
      • Management Essentials
      • Negotiation Mastery
      • Organizational Leadership
      • Strategy Execution
      • Power and Influence for Positive Impact
      • Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
      • Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
      • Dynamic Teaming
      • Transforming Customer Experiences
    • Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)
    • Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy
    • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
      • Entrepreneurship Essentials
      • Disruptive Strategy
      • Negotiation Mastery
      • Design Thinking and Innovation
      • Launching Tech Ventures
      • Winning with Digital Platforms
      • Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
      • Entrepreneurial Marketing
      • Transforming Customer Experiences
    • Strategy
      • Strategy Execution
      • Business Strategy
      • Economics for Managers
      • Disruptive Strategy
      • Global Business
      • Sustainable Business Strategy
    • Marketing
      • Digital Marketing Strategy
      • Creating Brand Value
      • Entrepreneurial Marketing
    • Digital Transformation
      • Winning with Digital Platforms
      • AI Essentials for Business
    • Finance & Accounting
      • Financial Accounting
      • Leading with Finance
      • Alternative Investments
      • Sustainable Investing
      • Strategic Financial Analysis
    • Business in Society
      • Sustainable Business Strategy
      • Global Business
      • Sustainable Investing
      • Power and Influence for Positive Impact
      • Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
      • Business and Climate Change
    • All Courses
  • For Organizations
    Open For Organizations Mega Menu
    • Corporate Learning
      Help your employees master essential business concepts, improve effectiveness, and expand leadership capabilities.
    • Academic Solutions
      Integrate HBS Online courses into your curriculum to support programs and create unique educational opportunities.
    • Need Help?
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Contact Us
    • Insights
      Open Insights Mega Menu
      • Business Insights Blog
        • Career Development
        • Communication
        • Decision-Making
        • Earning Your MBA
        • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
        • Finance
        • Leadership
        • Management
        • Negotiation
        • Strategy
      • All Topics
      • Learner on computer exploring HBS Online business lessons
        Sample Business Lessons and E-Books

        Gain new insights and knowledge from leading faculty and industry experts.

      • HBS Online Parlor Room podcast logo
        Podcast

        The Parlor Room: Where business concepts come to life. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform.

    • More Info
      Open More Info Mega Menu
      • Learning Experience
        Master real-world business skills with our immersive platform and engaged community.
      • Certificates, Credentials, & Credits
        Learn how completing courses can boost your resume and move your career forward.
      • Learning Tracks
        Take your career to the next level with this specialization.
      • Financing & Policies
        • Employer Reimbursement
        • Payment & Financial Aid
        • Policies
      • Connect
        • Student Stories
        • Community
      • Need Help?
        • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Request Information
        • Support Portal
      • Enroll Now
    Login
    My Courses
    Access your courses and engage with your peers
    My Account
    Manage your account, enrollment, and payments.
    HBS Home
    • About HBS
    • Academic Programs
    • Alumni
    • Faculty & Research
    • Baker Library
    • Giving
    • Harvard Business Review
    • Initiatives
    • News
    • Recruit
    • Map / Directions
    HBS Online
    • Courses
    • Business Essentials
    • Leadership & Management
    • Credential of Leadership, Impact, and Management in Business (CLIMB)
    • Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy
    • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    • Strategy
    • Marketing
    • Digital Transformation
    • Finance & Accounting
    • Business in Society
    • For Organizations
    • Insights
    • More Info
    • About
    • Support Portal
    • Media Coverage
    • Founding Donors
    • Leadership Team
    • Careers
    • My Courses
    • My Account
    • Enroll Now
    • …→
    • Harvard Business School→
    • HBS Online→
    • Business Insights→

    Business Insights

    Harvard Business School Online's Business Insights Blog provides the career insights you need to achieve your goals and gain confidence in your business skills.

     
    Filter Results Arrow Down Arrow Up

    Topics

    Topics

    • Accounting
    • Analytics
    • Business Essentials
    • Business in Society
    • Career Development
    • Communication
    • Community
    • ConneXt
    • Decision-Making
    • Digital Transformation
    • Earning Your MBA
    • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    • Finance
    • Leadership
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Negotiation
    • News & Events
    • Productivity
    • Staff Spotlight
    • Strategy
    • Student Profiles
    • Technology
    • Work-Life Balance

    Courses

    Courses

    • AI Essentials for Business
    • Alternative Investments
    • Business Analytics
    • Business Strategy
    • Business and Climate Change
    • CLIMB
    • CORe
    • Creating Brand Value
    • Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy
    • Design Thinking and Innovation
    • Digital Marketing Strategy
    • Disruptive Strategy
    • Dynamic Teaming
    • Economics for Managers
    • Entrepreneurial Marketing
    • Entrepreneurship Essentials
    • Financial Accounting
    • Global Business
    • Launching Tech Ventures
    • Leadership Principles
    • Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
    • Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
    • Leading with Finance
    • Management Essentials
    • Negotiation Mastery
    • Organizational Leadership
    • Power and Influence for Positive Impact
    • Strategic Financial Analysis
    • Strategy Execution
    • Sustainable Business Strategy
    • Sustainable Investing
    • Transforming Customer Experiences
    • Winning with Digital Platforms
    Subscribe to the Blog
    *
    Please complete this required field.
    Email must be formatted correctly.
    Please complete all required fields.
    RSS feed

    Filters

    Topics

    Topics

    • Accounting
    • Analytics
    • Business Essentials
    • Business in Society
    • Career Development
    • Communication
    • Community
    • ConneXt
    • Decision-Making
    • Digital Transformation
    • Earning Your MBA
    • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    • Finance
    • Leadership
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Negotiation
    • News & Events
    • Productivity
    • Staff Spotlight
    • Strategy
    • Student Profiles
    • Technology
    • Work-Life Balance

    Courses

    Courses

    • AI Essentials for Business
    • Alternative Investments
    • Business Analytics
    • Business Strategy
    • Business and Climate Change
    • CLIMB
    • CORe
    • Creating Brand Value
    • Credential of Digital Innovation and Strategy
    • Design Thinking and Innovation
    • Digital Marketing Strategy
    • Disruptive Strategy
    • Dynamic Teaming
    • Economics for Managers
    • Entrepreneurial Marketing
    • Entrepreneurship Essentials
    • Financial Accounting
    • Global Business
    • Launching Tech Ventures
    • Leadership Principles
    • Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Accountability
    • Leading Change and Organizational Renewal
    • Leading with Finance
    • Management Essentials
    • Negotiation Mastery
    • Organizational Leadership
    • Power and Influence for Positive Impact
    • Strategic Financial Analysis
    • Strategy Execution
    • Sustainable Business Strategy
    • Sustainable Investing
    • Transforming Customer Experiences
    • Winning with Digital Platforms
    Subscribe to the Blog
    *
    Please complete this required field.
    Email must be formatted correctly.
    Please complete all required fields.
    RSS feed

    6 Networking Tips for Online Learners

    An online learner using their laptop's trackpad at their desk
    • 01 Jun 2023
    Lauren Landry Author Staff
    tag
    • Career Development

    Networking is essential to professional growth. It’s through relationship-building that you can open doors to possible career opportunities, find trusted mentors, and meet individuals who challenge and broaden your worldview.

    It’s also one of the many benefits of online learning. By enrolling in an online course, you join a diverse group of like-minded professionals with unique perspectives and skill sets. Interacting with them provides the opportunity to foster professional relationships that lead to job opportunities.

    But to achieve your career goals, you first need to know how to build and maintain your network.


    Free E-Book: A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essential Business Skills

    Access your free e-book today.

    DOWNLOAD NOW

    How to Start Networking Online

    1. Introduce Yourself

    In a traditional classroom setting, you typically introduce yourself to students nearby. But in an online course, your peers could be seated in cities, states, or countries away. Don’t let the distance deter you; introduce yourself on the discussion boards. It could be as simple as sharing your name, location, and motivation for enrolling in the program. You might surface commonalities you can later leverage when contacting classmates via email or LinkedIn.

    After introducing yourself, regularly engage in conversation. Ask questions, respond to others’ comments, and share resources. The more active you are on the discussion boards, the deeper the learning experience—and your professional connections—will be.

    Related: 4 Reasons Online Classes Can Benefit Working Adults

    2. Use Technology to Your Advantage

    If you still prefer to network in person, you can use several free video conferencing tools to facilitate meetings and share real-time feedback, such as Skype, Zoom, and Google Hangouts.

    As a bonus, networking via video makes it easier to pick up on others’ subtle nonverbal cues, which can help you improve your overall communication and foster more meaningful connections.

    3. Bring Shared Value to Your Network

    Don’t be afraid to ask your network for help. Research by Harvard Business School professors Alison Wood Brooks and Francesca Gino shows that people who seek advice seem smarter and, in the process, encourage knowledge sharing among their peers.

    What you want to avoid is continuously requesting guidance without returning the favor. Ask your contacts, “How can I help you?” Not only can that strengthen your relationships but help establish you as a thought leader on a particular topic, like business analytics or financial decision-making.

    You could become the go-to resource your connections refer others to whenever a new project or business need surfaces. Just make sure that if you agree to help in some way, you follow up on that promise.

    Related: How Leaders Develop and Use Their Network

    4. Establish and Maintain Your Online Presence

    If you want your classmates to learn more about you and your professional background, establish an online presence. It could be as simple as creating a profile on LinkedIn—the social networking site that 94 percent of recruiters use to vet job candidates.

    When setting up your LinkedIn profile, ensure you:

    • Upload a professional photo that features a simple background and makes you the focal point
    • Create a compelling headline that speaks directly to your audience and your specialty
    • Detail all relevant work experience and quantify what you accomplished in each role
    • Add links to relevant sites, such as your online portfolio or company blog, which can help highlight and support your experience
    • Incorporate keywords you want recruiters to associate you with when searching LinkedIn, such as “financial analyst,” “innovation,” or “marketing strategy”
    • Fill out as many profile sections as possible, from your “Volunteer Experience” to “Accomplishments”

    As your career evolves, so should your profile. Regularly take the time to update your work and educational experiences.

    5. Join Relevant Communities

    Networking doesn’t need to happen solely within the course platform. Join industry-specific networking groups online, follow your school’s social media accounts, and research whether your program offers relevant meetups in your area.

    For example, the HBS Online Community enables online learners and other business-minded professionals to connect globally in several ways, including:

    A graphic listing the six benefits of the HBS Online Community with icons for each

    • Chapter events: The HBS Online Community has 35 Chapters around the world. Consider joining your closest one, or the Global Chapter, to find and attend virtual and in-person networking events.
    • Discussion boards: By joining a Chapter, you’ll gain access to discussion boards where you can share updates, ask and answer questions, and post polls.
    • Direct messaging: Chat directly with your peers about their learning experience, job opportunities, or relevant industry insights.
    • Professional profiles: Consider adding a photo and links to your social media channels to your profile. The more you share about yourself, the easier it’ll be to connect and network with others.
    • Exclusive networking groups: If you complete an HBS Online certificate course, you’ll be added to the Official HBS Online Networking Group.
    • Community Challenges: HBS Online annually partners with a nonprofit to host a Community Challenge that enables learners to help solve one of its most critical business challenges.

    Related: Why an Online Learning Community Is Important to Your Success

    6. Find Ways to Follow Up

    Building your connections is just the beginning. After that, the goal of networking is to maintain your relationships.

    Set aside time every month or two to reconnect with your contacts. Consider sharing an article that reminded you of them or a relevant webinar you think is worth watching. Or say congratulations if you spot exciting news published about their company or that they recently started a new job or took on additional responsibilities within their current organization. Those small gestures can go a long way in sustaining relationships.

    A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essentials Business Skills | Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

    The Value of Networking

    By prioritizing relationship-building, you can advance your career with online learning while helping others do the same. A quick conversation or new connection could be what helps land your next job or encourages you to ask for raise.

    But you’ll never know unless you introduce yourself and start networking.

    If you’re interested in pursuing an online education, explore our course catalog, and download our free e-book on how to advance your career with essential business skills.

    This post was updated on June 1, 2023. It was originally published on September 6, 2018.

    About the Author

    Lauren Landry is the director of marketing and communications for Harvard Business School Online. Prior to joining HBS Online, she worked at Northeastern University and BostInno, where she wrote nearly 3,500 articles covering early-stage tech and education—including the very launch of HBS Online. When she's not at HBS Online, you might find her teaching a course on digital media at Emerson College, chugging coffee, or telling anyone who's willing to listen terribly corny jokes.
     
    All FAQs

    Top FAQs

    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

    +–

    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

    +–

    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

    +–

    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

    +–

    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

    +–

    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

    +–

    We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

    We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

    +–

    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

    Sign up for News & Announcements


    • • Please complete this required field.
    • • Email must be formatted correctly.
    • • Please complete all required fields.

    Subject Areas

    • Business Essentials
    • Leadership & Management
    • Entrepreneurship & Innovation
    • Strategy
    • Marketing
    • Finance & Accounting
    • Business & Society
    • Digital Transformation

    Quick Links

    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Request Info
    • Enroll Now
    • Support Portal

    About

    • About Us
    • Media Coverage
    • Founding Donors
    • Leadership Team
    • Careers @ HBS Online

    Legal

    • Legal
    • Policies
    Harvard Business School
    Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College
    • Site Map
    • Trademark Notice
    • Digital Accessibility