If you use your school days wisely, you'll be able to build a network of professional contacts that can help launch your career. They can offer advice about the industry, share stories about their missteps and triumphs and maybe even help you land your first job.

These contacts can include professors, graduate students and career counselors at your university, alumni who participate in school affairs and professional chemists you meet at conferences or during internships.

"Networking is something that we try to get students to understand very early on," said Dr. Kelly O. Sullivan of Washington state's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. "Your professional network starts before your career starts."

Networks are most useful when they have variety. Rather than just getting to know people at your school, or at an internship, or at a conference, try to build relationships with people from different places and backgrounds.

These people may hear of a job opportunity, or they may be willing to write a recommendation if you apply for graduate school. They also may be able to steer you away from mistakes or help you understand what kind of job might suit you.

"The more you're networking, the more buzz you get in terms of what jobs are out there," said Mary Harty, academic adviser at the University of Washington's chemistry department. "What have other people tried? What worked for them?"

Harty recommends helping a professor with research or finding an internship. Both experiences offer opportunities to build knowledge and contacts.

Internships give you a chance to meet and observe professional chemists. You can learn about the company's mission and ask researchers what projects they're working on. You can ask whether they like their jobs, how they ended up at the company, and whether they have advice or suggestions for you.

After an internship, write your supervisors periodically to keep them posted on your life and your academic progress.

"Don't e-mail me, and don't call me," said Sullivan, who manages Pacific Northwest Laboratory's university relations and fellowship programs. "Write me an actual letter."

She said a letter indicates more thought and personal attention than a hasty e-mail or call. Sullivan said she's more likely to share a letter with other employees, perhaps during a staff meeting. A letter also signifies less expectation for a reply than an e-mail or telephone call.

Conferences present another networking opportunity. Sullivan suggests that students choose a conference or two that interests them and attend that conference every year. Students can use these conferences to develop and maintain a network of associates. You'll meet other students who could become future colleagues. You'll also be able to introduce yourself to researchers and ask about their work.

Small, regional conferences may be less overwhelming for beginners than national ones. "It can be very intimidating, especially as a student, and the best thing to do is start as soon as you can," Sullivan said. "Some people are just rude. You can't take everything personally. If you're brushed off, just say, `Thank you for your time,' and move on."

Sullivan also recommends that students begin presenting their own work as soon as possible. Conferences often offer poster sessions where undergraduates can display their work and respond to questions. Your work may catch somebody's interest and establish you as a serious and thoughtful chemist.

But preparing for these presentations is key. Don't speak too long or ramble because those mistakes can damage your reputation. If someone comes up to look at your poster, offer to explain it. If someone asks a question that you can't answer, just reply, "That's very interesting. I hadn't thought about that."

Networking can help students form an opinion about a particular company. As you gather information, don't just focus on impressing recruiters. Try to figure out whether their company would be a good fit for you.

"Hiring is sort of like dating," said Dr. Alvin Lavoie, who directs technical staffing and oversees campus recruiting at Rohm and Haas Company. "There are two parties and both want to get something mutually acceptable that's good for both of them. You're trying to get the best match you possibly can."

Lavoie described networking as "pre-dating." You can build a relationship with a company and evaluate your interest. "Is there even an attraction?" he asked.

Networking doesn't stop when you start work. As chemists advance in their careers, professional networks become even more important. Sullivan said that she begins her hiring searches by asking associates whether they know someone who might be a good fit.

Rachel Smolkin is a Washington-area freelance writer. She previously worked as a national reporter in the Washington, D.C. bureau of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Toledo Blade and covered issues such as health care and education. She also worked at Scripps Howard News Service as a national education reporter and as the Washington, D.C. correspondent for The Albuquerque Tribune in New Mexico and the Birmingham Post-Herald in Alabama.