Why Your Network Matters More After +2

If you just finished +2 in Nepal, it is easy to treat college choice as a brochure decision: fees, rankings, bus route. On Future of Work Ep. 1, Prashant Pokharel (who has worked across Nepal’s top tech companies and returned after time in the UK) keeps pointing somewhere quieter. The people around you (a dai in your tole, a teacher who opens doors, classmates who volunteer with you) often decide what you even try next.

Why does your network matter after +2?

Your network matters after +2 because it is how opportunities show up before you have a polished resume. Prashant’s own +2 choice at VS Niketan was not only about reputation. A local dai he looked up to studied there, the fee felt reasonable, and the campus had basketball infrastructure he cared about. Those “small” social signals steered a major academic path.

That pattern repeats later. While studying business information systems, he started with volunteer work (including selling tickets at events) rather than waiting for a perfect first job. Those early reps, and the people who invited him in, built the confidence and contacts behind later professional work, including co-founding a management consultancy after returning from the UK.

What a useful network actually looks like

A useful student network is not a LinkedIn follower count. From the episode, three layers show up again and again:

Layer	Example from the conversation	What it gives you
Near peers	Classmates, club mates, event volunteers	Practice, referrals, shared projects
Near seniors	Dai/didi, teachers, campus admins	Shortcuts, introductions, reality checks
Institutions	Colleges that create try-spaces	Permission to run events, free courses, labs

Prashant’s strongest praise goes to environments where students can try things: inter-college basketball, music competitions, even unused Cisco course seats that students had to claim themselves. The network is useless if the campus never creates rooms where you meet people while doing real work.

“Good institutions help students try things out… explore, and take responsibility, not only finish the syllabus.” — Paraphrased from Prashant Pokharel’s description of supportive campus environments on Future of Work Ep. 1

How to start building one this month

1. Pick one campus activity that forces collaboration (event volunteer, club, hackathon helper, sports team). Show up weekly.
2. Ask one senior for a 20-minute coffee about how they got their internship, not for a job on day one.
3. Keep a simple contact note: name, where you met, one follow-up you owe them.
4. Give before you ask: share notes, introduce two people to each other, help at an event.

If you are still choosing between Nepal, abroad, or skilling up, read our What After +2? guide next. Network planning and path planning belong together.

Frequently asked questions

Is networking only for Kathmandu private colleges?

No. Prashant’s story starts with a tole dai and a local campus choice. Government and private campuses both work when you join rooms where people do things together. The constraint is passivity, not the campus logo alone.

Should I wait until bachelor’s to build a network?

Waiting costs you practice. Prashant began volunteering in early bachelor years. +2 students can start with school clubs, community events, and honest conversations with seniors who already study IT, management, or hospitality.

What if I am introverted?

Start with structured roles (registration desk, content support, lab assistant) where the job creates the conversation. You do not need to work a room. You need repeated contact around shared work.

Talk through your next move

If you want help mapping campus options and first contacts after +2, start with a clear decision path.

Explore What After +2?