Networking

The old adage “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” still holds plenty of traction today. According to LinkedIn, 70 percent of new hires have a connection to someone at their new company.

Networking may not deliver a handy credential for your CV the way teaching a new course can, but it’s arguably more important than any single line item you can add to your CV. That’s because networking as a practice can dramatically increase your opportunities to collaborate, publish, stay aware of industry trends, and land a job. The brief conversations you get into at conferences will hone your interviewing skills and help you learn about workplace culture. 

Pro tip: Prepare for these “impromptu” moments by developing a concise description of your research before you go. That way, when someone asks what you do, you’ll respond confidently rather than scramble for the right words.

When you first begin graduate school, the academy can feel like a club, and you’re on the outside looking in. Research shows that demographic groups such as first-generation college students, women, and people of color are uniquely vulnerable to feelings of exclusion in graduate school.

If you feel nervous about approaching new people in your department or at professional events, remind yourself that you are already a member of the club. You’re among a select group of students who have been accepted to a graduate program at a prominent research university. As someone who has made it to this point, you have a unique and valuable set of skills worthy of sharing—even if you are in the first year of your program. 

A low-stakes way to begin networking is to start with other graduate students in your cohort. They know firsthand what you’re experiencing and can offer valuable support and validation. From there, seek opportunities to meet and chat with senior scholars in your department, professors, prospective mentors, and alumni. Take advantage of posted office hours to introduce yourself to faculty you admire on campus. Professional development (PD) workshops can provide more networking forums. Attending free PD sessions offered through WMUx, the Graduate Student Association, and the Graduate College will give you a chance to meet students from other disciplines as well. 

If you join professional organizations, make a habit of attending their gatherings. Go to conferences and stay after sessions to meet the presenters and panelists. You can also do pre-event research about the scheduled speakers so you can ask about specific papers they’ve authored or books they’ve written. Look for any overlap with your own scholarship and experience that could provide an entry point for conversation. 

When you find yourself in a room surrounded by strangers (it happens), stay calm. Assume all of those people are nervous about meeting other new people, too. 

To ease into a conversation, try relying on common denominators. For example, let’s say you’re at a conference and you see another person at the registration table. After briefly introducing yourself, you might ask: What brought them to [conference name] Which sessions are they interested in attending? That latter question might identify some research interests you have in common, and you can then pursue that conversation path.

Some people find it helpful to have a set of open-ended questions ready to help fill in any conversation gaps. You could ask: How did you develop your interest in [subject]? Then, actively concentrate on the person’s answer instead of casting about for the next thing to stay. Give validation to your new acquaintance by nodding or asking a relevant follow-up question. 

In most cases, the person you’re talking to will also want to learn something about you. Be prepared for this situation by developing and practicing a pithy response (i.e., an elevator pitch) you can give when someone asks about your research interests. Beware of using overly technical terms that only people in your discipline might understand. Your listener will appreciate a clear, streamlined explanation and an enthusiastic delivery.

One way to practice giving a concise pitch about your work is by participating in WMU’s Three-Minute Thesis or 3MT competition. You could also meet with your department chair or graduate advisor and express interest in taking part in WMU’s Research Poster Day. Those individuals can nominate you to represent your department at this popular annual event. Research Poster Day is held on campus and involves a poster and oral presentation competition and awards ceremony. 

Yes—in fact, it’s a common practice. If you come across a scholar whose work intrigues you or raises questions about your own research, feel free to reach out even if you’ve never met that person before. Take the time to write a thoughtful, relatively short email inquiry. Points to include:

• Your name, area of study, and individual research focus
• Your university
• How you heard about that person
• Aspects of the person’s research that interest you and why
• Questions you have
• A wish to learn more and connect
• Your contact info—email, phone, personal academic website (if you have one)

Proof your message carefully before you hit send, then watch for a response. Most academic researchers will appreciate your interest and take the time to answer your message. If they don’t, you’ve lost nothing. But if they do, you may have just acquired an important career contact. Send a thank-you note for the response, then try to stay connected.