WHY NETWORKING MATTERS MORE THAN CGPA

For years, engineering students have been told that maintaining a high CGPA is the key to a successful career. While good grades have their importance, the reality is that career growth depends on much more than academic performance. In many situations, the relationships you build can have a greater impact on your opportunities than the numbers on your marksheet.

A good CGPA can help you clear eligibility criteria for placements, internships or higher studies. But after that, companies look for more than just grades. Once you enter the professional world, skills, communication and connections matter just as much as your CGPA, in fact, in some cases, even more than CGPA.

Many students with average grades secured excellent internships and jobs simply because they actively connected with seniors, alumni, peers and professionals. Sometimes, a single conversation with the right person can open opportunities that you could not have gotten on your own. Networking allows students to learn things that are rarely taught in lectures. It exposes you to experiences and advice that can save you from months of confusion. A simple discussion with someone who has already been through the process can be very valuable.

Hackathons, internships, research opportunities and startup projects are often shared within communities, long before they reach job portals. Being part of communities and staying connected with people can help students discover opportunities they might otherwise miss. Platforms like HelloEngineers make it easier for students to interact with peers and professionals from across the country.

You may be an excellent programmer, designer or developer but if nobody knows about your work, opportunities can be hard to find. Networking helps you showcase your projects, collaborate with others and build a reputation. People are more likely to recommend someone they know, trust and have interacted with rather than someone whose name they have never heard before. Most people will not remember your semester GPA after five years after graduation. But the friends, seniors, professors and professional contacts you build during college can stay with you for decades.

CGPA is important and should not be ignored. But obsessing over grades while neglecting relationships, communication skills and practical exposure is not the best idea. A decent CGPA combined with strong skills and a good network is often more powerful than a high CGPA alone.

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