How Friendzone Helped Students Gain Networking Skills and Real-World Career Readiness

Networking can open doors, but for students without the right guidance, it can feel like a closed room. To bridge this gap, Friendzone partnered with Access Singapore to equip fellows in the Access Fellowship Programme (AFP) with practical tools and confidence to make meaningful professional connections. Led by Friendzone co-founder, Tham, the session equipped students from diverse and underprivileged backgrounds with the skills to navigate professional spaces with confidence.

About Access Singapore and the Fellowship Programme

Access Singapore is a social mobility charity dedicated to levelling the playing field for students who face academic, financial, or social challenges. By partnering with global and local companies, Access provides early career exposure, mentorship, and guidance to help these youths build confidence and drive.

The Access Fellowship Programme connects tertiary students from diverse backgrounds — many on bursary or financial assistance schemes — with industry professionals. Through a mix of mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities, the programme equips fellows with the resources, skills, and networks they need to pursue meaningful careers.

The Problem

For many students, professional networking is uncharted territory. While eager to learn and succeed, they often lack:

• Exposure to corporate norms and networking etiquette.

• Confidence to initiate and sustain professional conversations.

• Practical tools for navigating real-world networking spaces, from making introductions to following up.

Without structured guidance, these students risk entering career-building environments feeling unprepared — missing out on opportunities to form meaningful connections with mentors and potential employers.

The Solution

In an interactive workshop, Friendzone’s co-founder Tham broke down the art of networking into approachable steps. Rather than abstract theory, the session combined clear frameworks, roleplay and live application, so students could move from practice to action in a single sitting.

HERE’S WHAT WE COVERED:

• Intention and impression management: Participants learnt how to enter conversations with clarity, set the right tone, and leave a positive impression.

• Storytelling over facts: Instead of listing achievements, participants were encouraged to create authentic connections by sharing personal stories and inviting others to do the same.

• Reading the room: Participants received practical guidance on observing body language and recognising cues that indicate someone is open to engage.

• Roleplay and scripts: Participants practised tailored scripts for introductions, sustaining conversations, and exiting gracefully with a plan to follow up.

• Live application with mentors: Immediately after the workshop, participants put their learning into practice during a networking session with industry professionals.

The Outcome

Students left the session with the skills to engage confidently and authentically in professional settings — overcoming nerves, communicating with clarity, and holding conversations that felt natural and meaningful.

We designed the workshop to mirror real-world networking while creating a safe environment for students to experiment and grow. Through the use of icebreakers, storytelling, and roleplay, barriers were lowered, helping even shy participants step into conversations confidently. By closing with live networking alongside mentors, the students were able to put everything into practice immediately, enabling them to apply their new skills and leave with a real sense of progress.

Ready to Empower Your Community to Connect with Confidence?

With years of experience designing conversation-driven workshops, Friendzone helps organisations equip people with the confidence to network, connect, and build meaningful relationships. Our approach creates safe spaces where participants can practise, grow, and carry those skills into real-world settings.

If your organisation is looking to empower young talent, students, employees, or communities with stronger relationship-building skills, reach out to us at hello@friendzone.sg.