Networking for Early Career Scientists

1. Networking for Early Career Scientists Allison E. McDonald Department of Biology, The University of Western Ontario

2. What is Networking? • Networking is about meeting people and maintaining those relationships for the mutual advantage of both parties

3. Why should you network? • Keeps you up to date in an area of interest • Allows you to stay connected with individuals who may be able to help you in the future • Allows you to gain knowledge • Uncovering current or future opportunities (employment, funding, awards, etc.) • Allows you to help others and make friends!

4. Why people don’t network… • Involves confronting many personal fears associated with dealing with others • Social anxiety-we want people to like us, don’t want to feel like a user • Lack of patience-want immediate reward, but networking is a long-term investment • Lack of structure-no plan, deadlines, clear goals in order to provide a framework • Lack of realization about how important it is to your career progression

5. What are specific challenges about networking as a scientist? • Many scientists are introverts, this makes meeting new people difficult • Some scientists lack social skills or emotional intelligence • Some scientists have big egos • Scientists trained to think strategically, good in terms of coming up with a plan, but problematic because human nature can be overlooked

6. How can you overcome problems with networking? • Practice and planning!

7. Formal Networking Scenario • You are a 1st year graduate student. Your supervisor wants you to present your work at the Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Blue Gadgets. You are nervous because you have never been to a conference before, no one else from your department will be attending, and you work on Red Gadgets. You want to pursue a Ph.D. with Professor Bigdeal who will be at the meeting.

8. What can you do to effectively network: • A) before the meeting? • B) during the meeting? • C) after the meeting?

9. Before the Meeting • 30 second and 2 minute introductions • Ask PI for advice • Has anyone been to this conference before? • Talk or poster? Do your best work! Practice! • Arrange to meet Bigdeal at meeting • Sharing housing accomodations? • Have a plan • 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon • Conference programme • Business cards • Apply for awards (travel, presentation, etc.) • Volunteer to help out at meeting

10. During the Meeting • Go to social events, especially those for grad students/post-docs • Attend business meetings, run for society executive • Industry-talk to people in exhibits hall • Meet other people in your talk or poster session • Ask intelligent questions at talks • Get involved in causes that interest you (newsletter staff, Women’s Caucus, etc.) • Meet other students and post-docs • Write down important suggestions, comments, ideas • Ask for feedback on your work • Don’t try to do it all-this leads to burn-out!

11. Commit to events “Go early, stay late” • Talk to people during breaks/meals-sit with people you don’t know • Introduce known colleagues to new people • Ask colleagues to introduce you • Circulate and mingle at events • Be open to possibilities for collaboration or protocol tips

12. After the Conference • Stay in touch with contacts • Email or thank-you cards • If you offered to send data, papers, or citations do so promptly • Offer to summarize major ideas presented at the conference to your research group or department • Go over new ideas from the conference that might influence your own research directions • Mentor other students who could use your advice

13. First Contact-Starting the Interaction • Identify who you would like to meet, take advantage of random opportunities • Look for opportunities-meals, coffee breaks, sit near them, are they a session chair?, bus rides, excursions, elevators • Wait for a good moment • DON’T-bug people in the bathroom, when they are on the phone, busy with another person or activity, stalk a person

14. First Contact-During the Interaction • Shake hands-practice! • Be polite • Introductory comment (weather, city, conference) • Ask about research, perspective or opinion • Talk a bit about yourself and your research • Stay focused on who you are talking with • Maintain good eye contact • Thank them for their time, you enjoyed chatting with them • Leave your contact info. if appropriate • DON’T-scan the room looking for the next opportunity, act like a know it all or be arrogant, it isn’t all about you

15. First Contact-After the Interaction • Follow-up email-great to meet you! • Send any materials that you promised them • Send articles of interest to your contacts (even better if it is one of your own) • Did this person recently publish? Ask questions about techniques or findings • Think about inviting them to give a seminar in your department