Chances are you’ve heard a colleague or mentor mention the power of networking. The importance of networking cannot be understated. Networking plays a pivotal role in both personal and professional development, offering a gateway to new opportunities, collaborations, and insights. Whether in the realm of academia, entrepreneurship, or corporate settings, cultivating a strong network enables individuals to access resources, exchange knowledge, and foster meaningful relationships. In today's interconnected world, the ability to network effectively is not just advantageous—it's essential for navigating career advancement, fostering innovation, and achieving long-term success. The following article will provide networking tips and underscore the importance of networking for long term success.
Networking is meeting new people with whom you share a connection such as a profession, industry, or interest. Networking, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is developing connections and personal contacts that can take place anywhere. These events can specifically be networking events, a business casual meeting, a formal get-together, or a chance meeting over coffee.
Sometimes, the individuals you meet are strangers, or sometimes you share an intermediate connection or several, as you find there is a link between your networks. It may sound like you are just casually meeting someone new, however, the purpose of a network is drastically different. Networking aims for professionals to connect and help each other grow in their careers.
Through networking, you can be helping a coworker, a friend, or supporting your career path.
According to a recent research study announced by Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC), 70% of all jobs are not published publicly and 80% of jobs are filled through personal and professional contacts. This statistic shows us how beneficial and essential networking becomes for career success.
The formula behind this statistic is simple: creating relationships through networking builds trust and that is the fundamental building block for hiring someone. When hiring, recruiters have hundreds to thousands of applicants. Choosing one person can be daunting, but choosing somebody they know and have interacted with before is an easier and safer decision compared to selecting someone they’ve never met or only met through a brief interview.
Knowing you are more likely to be hired when the hiring manager trusts you should motivate you to want to begin building that trust now. For a college student, nurturing these relationships early can be profitable long term.
Further, in the dynamic and competitive realm of life sciences, securing a job in research, laboratories, or STEM-related fields often requires more than just academic qualifications and technical skills. Networking emerges as a potent tool that not only opens doors to exciting career opportunities but also fosters professional growth and development.
By interacting with a large network, you are inviting more opportunities. As a college student, you are in the position to meet someone who could own a big company in ten years, or be the next well-known professor, and a mentor with years of experience and a well-established name.
This makes college the perfect place to build your network and attend networking events, and you never know when the hiring recruiter might be your friend. Overall, networking will get you acquainted with those in your industry so they can become your client, partner, or employer someday.
This is particularly important in the STEM world, as research realms, lab specifics, and life science roles are smaller worlds than you may think. A microbiology professor may be connected to a valuable Principal Investigator of a lab of interest, or an advisor may have influence with the local medical school. Capitalizing and nurturing relationships has a long term impact.
🔬 Learn About: The Importance of Networking
To grow your network early on (specifically in college), start by taking advantage of the different opportunities you can access. In short, attend in-person networking events. On a college campus, networking events are not hard to find because of the numerous workshops and opportunities available for enhancing your career and professional development.
For example, office hours serve as a valuable networking experience. Speaking individually with your professor, lab director, or graduate student mentor can spark a long lasting connection and open you to a network of other researchers, industry professionals, and other educators.
Further, graduate students often are open to help from undergraduates in the lab, and they are connected with professors, physicians, and mentors at universities. Capitalize on opportunities to speak with them face to face and engage in work with them.
As a college student, you will find that most events you attend will include networking opportunities. Networking events occur in both casual and formal settings; start where you feel most comfortable.
Some networking events include:
In contrast, you can also network remotely through online platforms. Virtual networking can be a great way to connect with people.
Remote networking allows you to either connect with the individual yourself or, if you notice you two have a mutual connection, you can ask the mutual connection to introduce you. A variety of platforms offer remote networking, including:
All these places, and more, are open occasions for starting up a lasting partnership, which can be very helpful after college. At the core, networking is about the C’s: cultivating connection, communication, and collaboration.
When networking, you can build a professional circle that expands to include other small circles. It's often said to "never underestimate the power of your network," and this rings true as our networks are incredibly valuable resources in today's world.
There is much you can gain and provide through your networked connections. Whether it be a future job for you or someone else or gaining experience, networks exist to build stronger social dynamics. These social dynamics will make your college career because they provide a backbone for the rest of your career.
Further, networking can help you navigate the next best steps for yourself. For example, establishing a network within the research community can 1) give you access to lab positions and publication opportunities, and 2) connect you with individuals who can provide an inside scoop into lab culture which may help you decide which labs to join or avoid.
As one MBA graduate noted, obtaining a college degree also means gaining access to a vast network of peers and professionals. The benefits of networking are many, including improved social well-being, increased innovation, strengthened connections with other professionals, and enhanced professional interactions.
This is especially true of your university’s alumni network. Because of your shared connection of going to a specific school, alumni are generally more willing and enthusiastic to connect, provide advice, and serve as valuable networkers. Do not underestimate the power of the alumni network.
Regarding social well-being, research explains networking leads to the “six degrees of separation.” This concept suggests that all people are six or fewer social connections away from one another.
In college, these networking chains are especially helpful because they connect individuals in society and lead to lasting relationships. The importance of networking while you have university resources at your fingertips cannot be emphasized enough. These relationships are sometimes the main connection you need to make huge strides in your career. For example, I did my undergraduate career at UC Berkeley where I had a mentor who helped me with my graduate school application for UC Irvine. This mentor did his undergraduate career at UC Davis. Fast forward, I was having dinner with my sister and her research colleague, as we are all graduate students at UC Irvine. My sister's research colleague attended UC Davis, and although we never met before, she knew my mentor from UC Berkeley. Especially in life sciences, circles can run small and you never know who might be connected to other vital connections.
Ultimately, taking the time to build your network while in college is an investment in the future of your academic career and beyond in your respective field.
Networking propels academics and career fields because individuals share ideas. When two or more people participate in a conversation, share an event, or post their research and accomplishments, this communication contributes to a giant hat of ideas you can pull from later, contributing to more innovative work.
In academic and science settings, networking serves as a catalyst for innovation and communication, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and knowledge exchange among researchers, scholars, and practitioners. By connecting individuals from diverse fields and backgrounds, networking creates fertile ground for the cross-pollination of ideas, methodologies, and perspectives. Through collaborative research projects, joint publications, and shared resources, networking enables scientists to leverage complementary expertise and tackle complex scientific challenges more effectively, leading to breakthrough discoveries and advancements in various fields.
Moreover, networking in academic and science settings promotes open dialogue and facilitates the dissemination of research findings, driving scientific progress and fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration. From attending conferences and seminars to participating in professional societies and online forums, networking opportunities abound for scientists to share their work, solicit feedback, and engage in constructive discussions with peers and mentors. This exchange of ideas not only enhances the visibility and impact of individual research efforts but also catalyzes collective learning and innovation within the scientific community, ultimately advancing our understanding of the natural world and addressing pressing societal challenges.
Further, networking is a communication skill. The more you practice networking, the more comfortable and effective you will be at it. As you develop more confidence with navigating social settings and professional settings, the ability to network will come more easily. With ease of networking comes increased dialogue and collaboration. Communication, collaboration, and innovation are all intimately linked; networking encourages all of the aforementioned.
🔬Find Out: The Importance of Informational Interviews
Networking with a diverse array of people, spanning various backgrounds, professions, and research focuses, is crucial for building a robust and inclusive network in the dynamic realm of life sciences. Firstly, engaging with individuals from different disciplines and research areas exposes scientists to new perspectives, methodologies, and paradigms that they may not have encountered within their own field. This diversity of thought stimulates creativity, sparks innovation, and fosters interdisciplinary collaborations, ultimately leading to novel approaches and breakthrough discoveries in life science research.
Furthermore, networking with a diverse group of peers and mentors offers invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth. By connecting with individuals from different career stages, educational backgrounds, and cultural contexts, scientists can gain insights, guidance, and mentorship from diverse perspectives. Mentors from underrepresented groups can offer unique insights and support, serving as role models and advocates for diversity and inclusion in the scientific community. Moreover, networking with peers from diverse backgrounds cultivates empathy, cultural competence, and collaborative skills, which are essential for navigating the complexities of scientific research and fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment in the laboratory and beyond.
In addition to enriching scientific discourse and professional development, building a diverse network in the life sciences enhances researchers' understanding of global challenges and societal implications of their work. By engaging with scientists and stakeholders from different regions, industries, and sectors, researchers gain a broader perspective on the interconnectedness of science with broader societal issues, such as healthcare disparities, environmental sustainability, and social justice. This holistic understanding enables scientists to develop innovative solutions that address real-world problems and have a positive impact on society, underscoring the importance of diversity and inclusivity in driving scientific progress and social change.
Overall, networking with a diverse array of individuals in the life sciences is essential for fostering innovation, promoting inclusivity, and advancing scientific excellence. By embracing diversity in all its forms—whether in terms of ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic background, or research expertise—scientists can harness the collective intelligence, creativity, and passion of a diverse community to tackle the complex challenges facing humanity and pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future.
🔬 Learn: How to Find a Mentor
Advancing your career through networking inherently boosts your professional development skills. In college, there are plenty of opportunities to practice your networking skills through networking industry nights, with your professors, or other students in your class. Be bold and initiate interaction among your peers. Developing new relationships with other professionals helps you foster your professional capabilities because it requires initiative.
The more you facilitate these interactions, the easier networking becomes because you are developing social skills. Furthermore, forming multiple relationships can lead to business relations, which strengthen society over time as cross-collaboration grows and is encouraged. For college students, these relationships mean everything and can help in the future if you or the other party need help.
Access to Opportunities: Many job openings in the life sciences sector are filled through referrals and connections rather than traditional job postings. Networking enables individuals to tap into the hidden job market, accessing roles that may not be publicly advertised.
Industry Insights: Engaging with professionals in the field provides valuable insights into industry trends, emerging technologies, and research directions. These insights not only enhance one's knowledge but also demonstrate a proactive approach to staying abreast of developments in the field.
Career Advancement: Building a robust network of mentors, peers, and industry leaders can significantly enhance career progression. From guidance on skill development to identifying potential career paths, networking opens avenues for advancement within the industry.
Collaborative Opportunities: Life sciences thrive on interdisciplinary collaboration. Networking facilitates connections with experts from diverse backgrounds, fostering collaborations that drive innovation and address complex scientific challenges.
When you know you are going to attend a networking event, always prepare yourself. You want to prepare your elevator speech, bring a pen (you might need it), business cards, a plan on how you will maximize your meetings, and another co-worker, friend, or colleague.
When you begin making your way through each potential connection, introduce yourself with your elevator pitch. Allow them to introduce themselves and start engaging in the conversation. You might ask questions or ask for advice, but you really cannot go wrong with inviting conversation. Keep in mind, however, that each discussion should last no longer than 30 minutes, you want to leave feeling like you need to connect again.
Before moving to your next connection, try asking for a business card, LinkedIn connection, email, or another form of contact information. This tip is an important part of forming a connection because you want to keep in contact. As the saying goes, “It is better to receive a business card than to give one.”
As for the pen and the plan, these are intended to take jotted notes about who you spoke to and what you spoke about. These notes are meant to help you remember who you met and information about the conversation. When you reach out to them virtually, start by using these notes to remind them of the conversation you had and then pick back up where you left off.
🔬Learn About: The Value of a LinkedIn Profile
After welcoming a new connection, you want to keep these newly formed relations. LinkedIn offers many avenues you can use, including keeping your connections up to date with your career by posting your accomplishments and milestones. If you do not have LinkedIn, you can personalize this relationship and send emails to those who you want to keep informed about your career progress.
No matter which way you choose to stay in touch, sending your connections up-to-date messages about your career and checking in on them always helps make them feel good. For example, if you meet a recruiting manager for a position you know you want, you might take little steps to become qualified during your college career.
With every smaller goal you attain, keep the recruiter informed. Then when you are prepared let them know you are now qualified for the position. These small updates over time will help develop a trusting relationship, which in turn can result in your next position.
In conclusion, networking is not just a supplementary activity but an integral part of career development in the life sciences. By cultivating meaningful connections, staying engaged with industry trends, and actively seeking collaborative opportunities, individuals can unlock a wealth of possibilities and propel their careers forward in this dynamic field.
Have fun networking and remember, your network is power.