Networking is a crucial skill for master's and doctoral students to acquire. However, many people mistakenly believe networking is all about selling themselves. In reality, networking involves identifying how your unique skillset can offer value to other professionals.
What is the Networking Process?
Networking involves taking steps to identify how your unique skillset can offer value to other professionals. It is not about asking people for a job, but rather listening to their advice, ideas, and referrals. Industry contacts can help you gain insight into recruiting needs and uncover opportunities that may not be publicly posted, referred to as “The Hidden Job Market.” It is estimated that over 80% of jobs are found through networking. By having conversations with professionals in a field of interest, you will learn how to tailor your application toward the job you want.Developing Networking Skills
Anyone can develop good networking skills. You can start by initiating conversations with peers and faculty in your department. Initiating conversations at conferences and symposia is an excellent way to meet professionals in your field. Networking at its best is a mutual interaction. When you first begin to network, you may be asking for information and advice about potential careers. Over time, you will begin sharing information that will help others.Networking through Informational Interviews
A great way to network with professionals is through an informational interview. Informational interviews are interviews with academic or industry contacts with the purpose of asking for advice and professional insight. These can be in person, over the phone, or through a video chat. Ask only for information and advice. After ending the interview, don’t forget to email your contact a thank you message.Keeping Track of Your Contacts
Maintain a networking log to keep notes on the contacts with whom you have interacted. Most people use an Excel spreadsheet or Word document for this purpose with entries in a format similar to this:- Name:
- Company or Organization:
- Address:
- Referral Source:
- Date of Meeting or Contact:
- Key Points I Learned:
- Suggestions from Contact:
- Thank You Letter Sent:
- Suggested Contacts:
- Next Steps (research contact’s employer or area of research; send contact information; follow-up date with updates on suggestions received, etc.):
LinkedIn for Networking
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking site with over 738 million members as of June 2021. It is also the 39th most popular website in the world according to Alexa internet rankings. Ninety-two percent of Fortune 500 companies use LinkedIn and 77% recruiters are on LinkedIn, making it a popular destination for job seekers and recruiters.
Taking Care of Your Social Media
Employers often check potential hires’ social media activities during the hiring process. Thus, it is crucial to be cautious about sharing information online, as much of it will never be truly removed from public view. The following is a list of content you should never share online:- Negatively mentioning an organization by name
- Publicly complaining about your job, boss, coworkers, or customers
- Oversharing details about your intimate relationships
- Posting or associating yourself with bad habits
- Writing or taking pictures of yourself skipping classes, playing games, and sleeping at school or work
- Revealing your drug and drinking activities online
- Discriminating or making rude and inflammatory comments
- Posting confidential information, whether personal or professional
Maintaining a professional online presence is crucial when looking for a job or building your career. It's important to review all of your social media profiles and remove any unprofessional content or posts that could be seen as offensive. If you come across any negative information about yourself online that you can't delete, try contacting the poster and asking them to remove it on your behalf.
Avoid over-promoting or bragging about yourself on social media. Instead, share posts that demonstrate your professional interests and experiences. For example, share pictures of your research group, conferences you've attended, posters or presentations you've given, and activities you've participated in with student organizations and community outreach programs. This will show recruiters that you're a team player and have a genuine passion for your field.
Remember, everything you post online can be seen by potential employers, so it's essential to maintain a positive and professional image. Take the time to review all of your social media profiles and make sure they represent you in the best possible light.
Take control of your online presence with these simple steps
- Google yourself: Search for your name and add identifying information like your location, school, or associated organizations. Also, make sure to search your name on every social media platform you've used.
- Set up a search alert: Create a search alert using your name, so you can receive notifications when someone posts something about you online. This will help you stay on top of your online presence.