If you’re a grad student looking into alternative careers, you’ve probably come across the term “networking”. You may have heard that it’s important for your career. You may have been told you should get a LinkedIn account. You may have seen posters for networking events, and you may even have gone to one or two. But some of you might be asking: what even is networking?
Networking is “the action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts”. When you mention networking, conferences, meetups, and social events are some of the more common avenues that come to mind. Regardless of the method used, networking is all about creating connections between participants.
While having a quality professional network is never a bad thing, the importance of networking depends somewhat on your field, your chosen career, and your geographic location. Certainly it’s more important in business than in academia, though networking still has its role in academia, for example when setting up collaborations. Networking is also less important in some countries than others.
So why network at all? Some reasons include:
- A good network can help with finding a job. If someone refers you to a hiring manager for a position, it can increase your chances of getting the job. In some places and industries, the majority of positions are filled through networks and referrals.
- Easier access to information and expertise. Imagine if you found out you had to learn something new in a short amount of time – Reviewer #2 wants you to run an assay you’ve never done before, let’s say. If you had a friend who was an expert in that assay, you could just shoot them your questions rather than having to learn it all by yourself.
- Belonging to a community. Professional communities, whether formal or not, offer a great way to be part of a community of like-minded individuals with similar career backgrounds.
PhDs and networking
As a PhD transitioning into an alt-ac career, especially if you’re considering “non-traditional” roles beyond the bench, networking is doubly important. Networking with people already in those roles can help you learn more about what their jobs really entail and whether it’s something you want to pursue. It can also make the transition easier, as they can make introductions, help you figure out what skills you should focus on improving, or even refer you for a job. When I was applying for jobs after I graduated, I always did much better on applications where I knew at least one person at the organization I was applying to.
I’ve often found that people are uncomfortable with the idea of networking because it sounds artificial, as if it’s a purely transactional relationship. I definitely grappled with this. Personally, I found that being authentic and genuinely curious about the other person helps shift your mindset from “I’m asking this person for a favor” to “This person is cool! I want to learn more about them!”. Think of it as the difference between going on a date just hoping to get lucky, vs. really wanting to make a connection with someone.
Other people are uncomfortable with the idea that you would only get a job because of who you know. While nepotism definitely exists, in my experience having an “in” at a company you apply to does not guarantee you a job. What it does give you is a slight edge if you are already well-qualified for the job. It’s not the main deciding factor, but it could be a tiebreaker.
But what if I’m socially awkward?
Most articles about networking talk about formal networking events, or reaching out to strangers on LinkedIn. Formal networking usually involves dressing up and mingling with strangers – while I don’t love these events, I did get some use out of them in my transition, and I’ll talk about them in a future blog post. I’ve personally never tried the LinkedIn approach – it sounds too intimidating – but I can tell you that many people I know, including myself, don’t add random strangers on social media.
The problem with both these approaches is that 90% of grad students I know are not social butterflies. Most of us get anxious at the thought of talking to strangers. Neither are these approaches the best way to build a quality network. Instead, I found different ways to build a quality network that worked for me. Most of them fall into three broad categories:
Socialize with your peers
This is the easiest one you can do. Friday afternoon department socials? Conference parties? Grad student outings? You don’t have to go to all of them, but I’d make it a point to go to at least one a month. They’re fun and they’re great ways to meet people you already have something in common with, which makes socializing much easier. I’d particularly encourage getting to know students who are a year or two ahead of you, as they’ll be going on the job market just before you, and are great sources of information in your job hunt. They’ve been there, and they remember what it was like.
One-on-one meetings
For those of us intimidated by large groups, one-on-ones are a great way to build a quality relationship. It could be with a professional in a company or field you’d like to work in, a fellow student looking to make a similar leap, or just someone who does something you think is interesting. Invite them for a coffee, a video chat, or offer to meet at their office. If you’re meeting someone who has a busy schedule, make sure to respect their time – show up on time and end on time (but if the conversation is flowing and they’re OK with it, by all means keep going!). Some tips to make it a little less awkward: bring a list of questions, be genuinely interested in the person you’re talking to, and remember that these meetings WILL get better with practice.
Work on something with other people
This is a favorite of mine. I’ve met people who’ve had big effects on my career through classes and projects outside of my PhD. When I joined my current company, the person who hired me was someone I’d worked with on a class project. The beauty of getting to know someone this way is they have a chance to actually work with you. Taking classes that interest you (I’d advocate for in-person classes where possible), organizing events, volunteering, and doing internships are all great ways to meet new people who will get to know your strengths and your work style. You don’t have to do something directly related to your research – in fact, doing something completely unrelated is a good way to create a network of “weak ties“. Don’t forget that they also give you something extra to put on your resumé.
Remember that these are all just suggestions, based on my experience and the experiences of those around me. There is no “right” way to network, so find what works for you! Maybe you have a particularly well-connected running group, or you love hosting dinner parties. Every person you meet could be a valuable contact and a great friend, regardless of where and how you meet them. I once struck up a conversation with a woman sitting next to me on a plane – it turned out she’d spent years in a similar career to mine and had started an incredibly interesting company. We’ve followed each other on social media ever since.
Most importantly, if you struggle with connecting to others, remember to be kind to yourself, take your time, and practice. Some meetings will always go better than others, so don’t be discouraged if you have a few frustrating or awkward interactions – just take what you’ve learned to your next meeting. Have fun!
PS: If you’re interested in learning more about networking, I highly recommend reading “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi for inspiration.
I Have A PhD, Now What? 