Networking 101: Scientists Edition
When I was working on my PhD, sometimes it felt as if my project was my whole life. It mattered the most and my whole universe was spinning around my cell culture schedule.
But here is a bummer: there is a life after PhD and you want to transition into it seamlessly. There are plenty of resources out there to help you prepare for it, and the majority of these sources advice that developing a strong network is the key to success. But nobody actually tells how to network, assuming you’ll figure it out on your own.
Here are few tips that helped me to connect with people and these tips might be a good starting point to build connections.
Be a human first, a scientist second
People connect well with people and not so well with abstract ideas. Of course, while going to the conference, you do not necessarily prepare an elevator speech about your hobbies, but maybe you should. In any case, don’t be the person who only talks about your project, after all — everyone got one of those and they will hear about dozens of projects more during a conference! Cinema, literature, travels — what have you! — but leave your western blots for your presentation. A year later people most likely would not recall your project title, but they’ll never forget your Star Trek collection. I know, I wouldn’t.
Learn the difference between small talk and deep talk
While small talk is a great conversation starter, deep talk would bring you a long way to bond with people. Even if you lived under a lab bench your whole life, I bet you read a book once other than a lab manual — what did you think of it? This might be a start of a deep talk conversation.
Follow up on conferences/meetings
Even if you spent the most fun evening with other people, there is no guarantee you will be able to find each other months or years later. Some people are just bad with names! LinkedIn is your friend here. Send a contact request directly after a conference with a short note about where did you meet and what memorable things you did together. Or maybe follow up with afterthoughts on your discussion. These can help both you and the person to avoid “who’s that?!” situations not only while sending the request, but also years later when you see an unfamiliar name in your contact list.
Don’t contact people only when you need something from them
I think this one should be self explanatory, shouldn’t it? Don’t only talk to people when you need advice or, say, an antibody aliquot. Ask them for lunch or coffee, go to a dance class or sports together and be a human for a while. There are so many people I exchanged aliquots of stuff with! I’m only one year out of the lab and it’s the people I had lunches with I’m still connected to. And I have former colleagues who contact me only when they have a lab issue. I do not want to be bitter, but — you know what? — every time I’m a bit less inclined to respond.
Do not forget to say “thank you”
I cannot believe how often this is neglected! Some day you will need to contact someone because you’ll need something from them. When they make an effort and reply, do not go radio silence! Thank you note would be good and a follow up describing what did you think of their advice would be even better. Did you try to implement their advice? Did it solve the issue? What do you want to do next? Keep the conversation going.
Find the time to support others
And I do not mean only to support experiments for the chance to get on their publication. Your warm human advice, encouragement, or even a support in Halloween party organization would be more valuable in connecting with people than formally co-authoring a manuscript. Year after academia I am still texting with people, who organized parties with me, but not with that guy, who never had the time for nonsense like that. What was his name, by the way?
I wish I did all of these during my PhD time. I was laser-focused on my project, pushing it at every opportunity. I was guilty at only coming to people for a scientific advice and I am not sure I always acknowledged their support. There is a simple reason for that — when you are in academia science is your whole life and your project is the only thing that matters.
One year later, when this bubble burst, it became clear: people matter the most, projects — not so much. Think of it, people are not going to work on their project forever. People tend to switch topics, labs or even go out of academia in every 2–3 years. Good side of it: when they do, it would expand your network tremendously, if you manage to establish and keep the connection.
