[Image Description: David Rose, from Schitt’s Creek, exclaims, "I love making  connections."]

Pictured: What your internal monologue should be before any networking event

 

Networking is a pretty loaded word. What does it mean to network? I suppose when it comes down to it, one can describe networking as creating a system of connections. We can break that down into smaller parts – connections between people, people who will help further grow your contacts. Eventually, your network will create a larger web with you at its center.

 

 [Image Description: Jeannie Mai looks at the camera and declares, “Let’s do this, baby,” before dropping the microphone and strutting away]

Pictured: How you feel as you prepare to meet potential new connections

 

There are many places, settings, and situations that can serve as opportunities to network. With that in mind, it’s prudent that you be ready when you know you will be in a place to meet new people. Preparing yourself, even if that preparation is only mental, can, in turn, make it easier to push beyond your comfort zone to forge new connections. For example, if you are going to a conference, look up the schedule ahead of time to peruse through the listed poster sessions or presentations. Make note of the ones you would like to see. Having your own personal itinerary will smooth out your day so you won’t have to scramble trying to find a session location at the last minute. Once you have an idea of who you want to talk to, do a bit of background research on your future conversation partners so you can have a couple of talking points when you meet them. Make some mental notes of things you have in common, whether that be research, background, or mutual connections.

For those who are more inclined to do online networking, be sure to be prepared in this digital space as well. Having an idea of who you may want to connect with early on—such as a researcher who studies X, or scientists who work with Y—can come in handy; you never know whose profile you’ll stumble across. If there is someone whose interests catches your eye, looking through their previous work can give you an idea of things that you may have in common, as well as things that they may be interested in regarding your own work.

 

[Image Description: Wayne, from Letterkenny, discussing gift wrapping practices with his friends, tells them, “If you can be one thing, you should be efficient.”]

Pictured: A description of your elevator pitch, AKA your introduction

 

At your networking event, be prepared to introduce yourself. Have a quick summary of your research on hand so that you can convey your work in a brief statement. Important things to include are things like your institution, your current year as a graduate student, or commonalities between your work and the work of those you speak with. There are also ways to tailor your introduction depending on the person you are talking to. For example, questions you may ask someone in industry will likely be different than those you ask a faculty or professor. If you want to say thank you to someone who just gave a presentation, the rule of thumb is to be quick about explaining who you are and what you want to say to them because there is likely a line of people behind you waiting for their turn. Having an on-hand, quick blurb about your research will keep the flow of introductions going but may also spark the interest of someone around you.

 

 

            [Image Description: Squirrely Dan, from Letterkenny, says, “Thank you for you’re your wise and wonderful lessons.”]

Pictured: The subtext of your thoughtful follow-up email

 

Once you’ve met someone that you want to keep in touch with, make sure to get their contact information. You can ask if they have a card or offer one of yours if you have any. If they don’t have a card, ask if it is okay if you reach out to them in the future. If you can connect with them on LinkedIn, send them a message reminding them where you met and thanking them for the chat. This way, when you reach out to them in the future, you’re not emailing them out of the blue or after a long time of non-interaction. A good rule of thumb is to follow up within about 24 hours, so your original interaction is still fresh in their minds. This is especially important if your new contact is likely to have met a lot of other people that day.

After connecting with someone and getting their online information, it is prudent that you maintain contact with them. In your follow-up email, remind them of who you are and give a brief summary of what you talked about together. Remember, they likely spoke to multiple people in a short span of time, so providing context regarding how they know you will go a long way to making sure they don’t forget you either. If they live locally, you can even ask in your follow-up email to go out for coffee to have a more in-depth follow-up to your previous conversation. If they live further away, having an email exchange may be the way to go. If where you met them is an annual event, try to find them again at the next iteration of the event. In this case, it may be helpful to email before the start of the event to reach out and ask if they have some time to meet up with you.

 

[Image Description: Olivia pope, from Scandal, holds a phone up to her face as she says, “I have so many questions I want to ask you.”]

Pictured: You, thinking of all the things you’re going to ask people in your network

 

After your conference, meeting, or networking event, I suggest making a list of everyone you talked to. Having a bit of a summary of what you talked about, as well as relevant information about the folks you chatted with can help in the future when you see them again or need to reach out to specific mentors or contacts. Also, having a list of who you should be checking in with throughout the year or at the recurrent events will make sure you are kept up to date with important people in your network.

If they have given you the green light on reaching out to them, take advantage of that opportunity. Whether you have questions about their research and lab, or their personal experiences and journey to where they are now, try to think of what you might ask to help you grow. Additionally, consider how your new contacts might be a beneficial asset in your network. Once you’ve built a strong rapport with someone, you can send them periodic updates on your progress. If they have become a mentor for you, you can send them your achievements so that they have an idea of your trajectory so that they have a better idea of who you are and what you have done in your academic career.

 

 

[Image Description: Jon Snow, from Game of Thrones, telling his Uncle Benjen, "I'm ready."]

Pictured: You, about to start networking

If you’re looking into post-graduate opportunities, try to get to know graduate students or post-docs in labs that interest you. Conferences are a great place to get to know not only potential employers but also the culture of their workspaces. On another note, each interaction can be a possible connection, so always be prepared to present yourself in a positive manner. This includes not only the work you are presenting but your professional image as well. Dressing the part of a working professional can set you above the rest – this includes business casual attire as opposed to jeans and a t-shirt.

Take advantage of each opportunity that may come up, you never know where a conversation will lead you!