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Networking in Research Settings……or Building relationships in Research Settings!

Victoria WadeCareers Consultant

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Alternative Titles for today……Rejected•How to Win Friends and Influence People•How to Network Successfully•How to Sell Yourself to Important People•How to build a Powerful Professional Network

I Prefer……..•Building Productive Relationships•Getting to Know People and Helping Each Other Out!•Establishing a bank of relationships

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What is networking?Getting to know people•Pro-actively; with a particular purpose in mind •By chance; at a meeting, on a bus etc.

Staying in Touch•Meeting up, emails, social networks, telephone calls

Sharing for Mutual Benefit: reciprocity•Exchanging expertise, opportunities, other contacts

So what might stop you?

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Don’t want to ask favoursDon’t want to ask favoursFear of rejectionFear of rejection

Don’t want to sell myselfDon’t want to sell myself Don’t like small talkDon’t like small talk Lack of time Lack of time

It takes too long for things to happenIt takes too long for things to happen

Lack of contactsLack of contacts

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Why Network?• Gain Support: people may be placed to give you advice, support and even,

mentorship

• New Research Ideas: possible collaborations, new perspective, new approaches and techniques

• Funding /Postdoc Positions: who has received a research grant? Are they looking for Postdocs? Are there other funds you could utilise as a senior academic?

• Opportunities: write a book review, contribute to an article, run an event

• Their Network: people (e.g. at SGUL) might know other people who are doing research that aligns with your interest

• New Ideas: ideas on possible career moves, entrepreneurship

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What makes a good networker?

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Activities of networking• Finding and researching people• Making contact• Talking about yourself• Asking for things• Finishing the conversation• Following up and maintaining links

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Finding & Researching People

• Where to find people to network with?• What is interesting about them?• What questions might they have answers to?• What do they need or value?• How could you benefit them?

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Making Initial Contact with PeopleWarm Contacts•Introductions through other people•People that may have attended the same school/university/research institute/research group•Good chance of success

Cold Contacts•Sending emails to people you do not know or have no link to•Variable success rate

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Cold ContactsWhat sort of email is appropriate?•Lead with something in common•Get to the point fast•Show you mean business•Make your ask clear•Show sensitivity to the time given from the other person

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Email introduction script elements• Intro: Hi, my name is...• Label/hook: I’m really interested in...• Request: I was hoping I could ask you a couple

of questions about...• Appreciation: ...was really helpful because...• Follow-up: Could I contact you another time if

I have more questions? Are there other people you would suggest I speak to?

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Speaking to peers/seniors at Conferences• Read their research; prepare for the conference by reading their

research. Think about the areas that interest and how your research aligns with theirs.

• Read about them; where have they worked, who have they collaborated with, what research grants do they have?

• Contact them in advance; in advance of the conference introduce yourself by email. Say what you are researching and with whom. Say that you would like to meet them at the conference. This can be a useful introduction when you see them.

• Rehearse a short elevator pitch: Who you are and what you do. This can help if you are nervous.

• Choose your moment wisely; do not approach people when they are in select and/or closed circles. Catch them in the dinner/coffee queue, when they are alone, in the pub, at a smaller, informal research presentation.

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• Go up to the group, listen to the conversation for a bit, and then make a contribution when it's appropriate

• Introduce yourself to everyone• Start a conversation with the group the same as you would a

single person• "Mind if I join you?“• Start talking to one person in the group to get your foot in the

door• Buddy system – ‘The loneliest on their ownliest’

Face to Face introduction:How to break in to a group

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Talking about Yourself

• What do you want people to remember about you? • Think about how you will explain your research differently, depending on

who you are talking to.• Why wouldn’t they be interested?

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Asking for Things

What is appropriate and what is not?

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Increasing need for strong relationship

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Entering and exiting groups

• Make a graceful, polite exit• Do not abandon for someone “better”• Last impressions count as much as first impressions• Ask them for business card

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• Follow up in the next 3-4 days• If you add someone on LinkedIn send a personal

message with the request• Keep business cards• Work at building relationships• Reflect on whether you achieved your objectives and

how you need to network smarter next time

Following up

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Tips and Tricks• Preparation is key and will give you confidence• Importance of visual communication• Circulate – enter and gracefully exit various conversations• Use your small talk ideas• Do not criticise anyone to a stranger• Avoid controversial topics and opinions• Write down people’s names or take a business card• If you have forgotten peoples names then try to get them to

introduce themselves to others• Last impressions count• Follow up

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3 Take Home Messages

• Building productive relationships benefits both parties

• Put yourself in their shoes

• Networking is a process