A few weeks ago, I went to a mixer for Claremont College alumni working in the entertainment industry. On my way to the event, I imagined schmoozing with successful alumni and touting my own work experience. When I arrived, I was struck by an attack of awkwardness. I had no idea how to start a conversation, whom to talk to, or what to say. Suddenly, I realized how much I had to learn about networking.

Networking can take many forms—not just attending mixers, but also maintaining contacts with people you have worked with, connecting with your high school or college alumni networks, or meeting with a family friend who has your dream job. Basically, networking is about building and sustaining relationships.While networking can be daunting when you're a terrified senior like me looking for a job out of college, it won't be if you start building strong networking skills while you're in high school.

You're probably already doing some networking now, without even realizing it. When you meet with a teacher after school, take pointers from a coach, or quiz a friend's parent about her job, you're already practicing these professional skills.

In the college admissions process, you have a chance to kick it up a notch, by asking teachers to write letters of recommendation, interviewing with alumni and meeting current college students. Building relationships early with teachers can help the admissions process go more smoothly, and can help the teacher write you a letter that reflects both your academic and personal skills.

When I applied to college, I met with each of my recommenders and discussed my interests outside of the classroom. Similarly, students often interview for schools with college alumni or current students.In these meetings, you practice networking skills like asking questions, representing yourself and maintaining confidence.

Almost any professional will tell you that networking is the most important factor in getting a job. Iris Gardner, a career development officer at my college, told me, "One in 14 jobs are found by knowing someone. One in 500 jobs are found on job boards." Networking contacts don't always get you a job, but they can often give you insight into the industry and help you define your goals.

I've been amazed at how significant a random family connection can be. My mom's workout instructor once introduced me to a TV writer who was somehow connected to my family. She gave me invaluable advice on the industry and answered many of my questions.

While I'm still learning about networking myself, I have picked up a few pointers along the way that can be particularly helpful to high school students:

Stay in touch. Let teachers and mentors know where you go to college, and update them on your experience there. "One of my biggest mistakes was not keeping in touch with people I knew in college and high school," says Ivan Misner of Business Networking International. "Take advantage of the Internet age to maintain regular contact." This principle also applies to former bosses, friends, and professional introductions. If you haven't talked to someone in a while, send an email about what you're doing.

Ask questions. Rather than asking straight out for something like a job or internship, most professionals tell you to ask questions. As Dr. Misner says, the most common mistake in networking is "premature solicitation" or trying to ask for something before there's a relationship. So, when you meet with students who go to a college you're interested in, ask a lot about their experiences, not just how to get in.

Know yourself. In admissions, you build skills to be able to describe succinctly who you are and what you care about. "There's a difference between a student who comes into an interview and does not think about why they do what they do, and one who does," says Ms. Gardner, who used to work in admissions before moving to career development. "When a student is good at articulating that, we can see how they would fit into campus." In admissions as well as in professional life, it's important to be able to represent yourself in an interesting and thoughtful manner.

Confidence. Probably the most important aspect of networking is getting past that awkwardness that we often feel. Have confidence when approaching teachers, meeting with others and forming connections. Most likely, people will remember your confidence more than any aspect of your transcript or résumé.