Networking Know-How
Robert Tillman, New York Academy of Sciences Science Alliance
To non-scientists and many articles on the networking juggernaut, scientists are viewed as somewhat lacking in
networking talent. While as a group we may not command the proficiency of those trained in business or marketing, we all
have the ability to network and to become better at it. Thanks to the savvy and talent of internet entrepreneurs we also now
have an array of online search and networking sites that allow us to easily find and cultivate relationships with individuals
who share common interests than ever before. While online networking may be considered impersonal to some, and the
clammy handshake of what can be the stressful experience of traditional networking off-putting to others, both types of
networking share many similarities in addition to having their own unique strengths and limitations.
Whether you are letting electrons do the talking or your vocal cords, the unspoken, and best left unbroken, fact
about networking is that networking is about forming sincere relationships and not temporary and/or self-serving
interactions with others. You form relationships with others that are mutually beneficial. In doing so you benefit your
career and other aspects of both your lives whether it is being exposed to new ideas, information, job offers, or experiences
to name just a few.
Common ground
Although I will get to some specific tips for both online and personal networking later, I wanted to provide some
advice I have learned from others and from my own experience that I think applies to both online and traditional
networking.
1. Networking is a necessary, so make the effort to manage shyness, stress and overcome procrastination:
Networking is part of your job and careers so make time for it. If you tend to be shy, you will need to work on
being outside of your comfort zone especially when networking in person. If it causes severe anxiety or stress,
professional coaches or assistance may be for you. If less shy try out some of the tips will provide later or attend
events with a friend that you will be able to learn from and help make the training more comfortable.
2. Make an effort to meet new people and diversify your network. You should have both internal and external
networks when it comes to your career. Make it a point to introduce yourself and get to know your work
colleagues by inviting them to lunch, going to office parties, and organizing or participating in organized ‘office’
activities outside of the workplace. Attend networking events outside of our organization as well; meetings, meet-
up’s, etc. Try to cultivate both professional and social networks such as volunteering in professional, community
or social groups. Diversifying your network exposes you to people with experiences and opportunities that can
benefit not only your personal growth and happiness but also expose you to career opportunities that you may
have not considered or known about.
3. Don’t take situations or others for granted. All people you come in contact with whether it is from an email,
phone call, or chat with a person sitting next to you on the bus is a potential member of your network.
4. Be willing to share: Be open and honest with the other person you are building a potential relationship with and
remember that help and advice flows both ways.
5. Keep connected: Go out to lunch with colleagues, regularly attend meetings, call and email a colleague every
once in a while to see how they are doing. Keep up with your online social and professional network and
remember birthdays and other important days. If you find an article or something that makes you think of someone
send it to them or let them know.
Online networking
Type in “list of social networking websites” in Wikipedia and you will find an entry with over 100 sites. Come back
in few months and it is likely new ones will have begun as others fade or fold - such is the life of online networking sites.
The big advantage of web based networking lies in it’s power to provide information on individuals, it’s democratizing
nature and it’s global reach. Compared to traditional networking, you can easily find, connect and stay in touch with
individuals who you would like to network with compared to traditional networking. So how does one navigate the brave
new world of online networking? While you may have different opinions or other advice here are a few suggestions:
1. Cast a wide but focused net: The purpose of online networking for most people is to find others and have others
find you. If that is the case, then it makes some sense to focus on sites that have the most members but also has
members that will likely be useful to network with. While MySpace may have the most members, Facebook, has
a faster growing audience, and until recently limited to college and high school students and groups so it has a
higher percentage of college educated members (1) LinkedIn which focuses on professional relationships has the
highest rate of growth with 20 million users ending in April 2008 (2). If you are going to stay in science, perhaps
a more specialized site such as Nature Networks or Chemical Forums, started by Mitch André Garcia, a graduate
student at UC Berkeley, would be an ideal forum for you to network within. While no one has time to use all the
sites out there, carefully considering what sites will be best for your situation will help make for a more rewarding
online experience.
2. Protect your reputation: Although the word is getting out, there is a tendency for us to forget that the internet is
a public space. Many potential employers are actually looking at available online profiles to check into the
“character” of potential employees. Many social networking sites are improving the ability to set restrictions on
what content is seen by different individuals of members’ networks, but it is only effective if you use it. As
content increases and becomes more searchable, it is also important to think of what others in your network may
have about you on their websites.
3. Consider your online networking philosophy: I was watching The View when I was home over the holidays and
Barbara Walters who had complained that she had very few MySpace friends a few months prior, now had close to
20,000. I know Ms. Walters has some great networking skills, but can anyone really have 20,000 friends? If
networking is about building potential relationships then how can that happen when I am one in a thousand let
alone 20,000? A good rule to consider is that you should be able to share with an individual something about your
relationship with anyone you have listed on a personalized social networking site, whether it be that you went to
school together or worked together briefly on a project.
4. What did you say?: I am an early 30 something and recently got an email from a family member who is quite a
bit younger. After spending a few minutes trying to decipher what she had written, I went to Google to try to
interpret her internet shorthand. Aside from the barriers that emoticons and internet shorthand may pose for various
individuals, one should also consider that all written dialogue while being more precise than most oral
communication lacks the ability to express meaning and can be open to interpretation. As such, consider applying
some of these writing practices when making initial contact - especially when using email.
• Use proper grammar, punctuation and spelling
• Be polite
• Make clear the intent of your communication – the reason you are writing.
• Try to maintain an awareness of the person you are writing to by considering how they might interpret
what you have written.
• Write clearly and directly. If you think there might be some confusion or misinterpretation on the
recipient’s part, take the time to explain what you have written.
Traditional networking
No matter how great a social networking site may be, there will always be the need to network face to face. This is
likely due to thousands of years of communicating in person - save for the original telephony of yelling from a distance. By
being physically present we are demonstrating the importance of whatever activity we are engaged in and sharing a common
experience. The communication is also richer as we can pick up on both the tone of the voice and body language of the
people we are with.
Whether we are a networking gadfly at ease chatting it up with all those present, or the wall flower who tends to
position themselves against a wall seemingly hoping that no one will talk with them, or somewhere in between here are a
few things that may be helpful to you.
Before the event and entering the room:
• Dress appropriately for the event.
• Keep tissues and breath freshener on hand
• Know who is going to be there and have a short introduction - a couple sentences – ready about yourself
that is suited for the event.
• Find a mirror once you get to the event and make sure your hair is not windswept or something is out of
place. Unless you are very beautiful and/or famous if you notice more people than usual staring at you it
is likely not a good thing.
• The event starts at the front door. The person who you help out of the car or invite to go with you up the
elevator may be a person you would want to know.
In the room:
• Enter the room with confidence even if you don’t know anyone there. Greet the host(s) and look for
someone you know to say “hello”. If you don’t know anyone, then look for someone standing alone you
can go up to and start a conversation with.
• Shake hands when meeting someone and greet them. The handshake is the proper business greeting and
ending in the United States for both women and men. A proper handshake is with your right hand
extended and two or three pumps. Also, make sure your handshake is firm but not crushing. A limp
handshake conveys a lack of interest and professionalism, but too tight a grip can be perceived as
overbearing. A brief acknowledgement when shaking hands is expected. It can be, “It is very nice to meet
you, Mei” or “Good to see you again, John.”
• If you forget a person’s name, admit it. Simply tell the person, “I’m sorry, but I have forgotten your
name” or “I’m sorry, but you name just escaped me.” It can be really obvious to the other person when
you forget his or her name, and self pride or panic should never overcome sincerity in a relationship you
are trying to build.
• When introducing people introduce the person of highest rank in a group first and make sure everyone in
the group you are joining knows the name of the person who you may be with.
• I am sure we have all had the experience of coming up to a group of three or four individuals gathered
around each other speaking to each other, or a “huddle” as I like to refer to them. If you are part of the
huddle, extend an invitation for the person to join. If you want to join a huddle, establish eye-contact, or
wait for a natural pause in the conversation and make an introduction along the lines of, “Excuse me, I
am sorry to interrupt but I would like to introduce myself, I’m Rohit.”
• Have a conversation starter. While at a food or drink table, you can start up a conversation by
mentioning, “The food looks fantastic.” If something has been unusual that day, even the weather, you
can mention it. Open ended questions or comments such as, “This is my first time at this event. I am
happy to have come” can start off conversations.
• Small talk is important: Keep up to date and informed about the world around you. Articles, current news
topics, and current events in general, as well as, those interests that may be specific to you and those you
are networking with are good topics to talk about and create rapport.
• Make sure the topic and content of starters as well as any conversations you have are positive in tone and
respectful of others.
• Be willing to share some personal information but avoid sharing information that is too personal.
• Don’t go into details when describing things to other people especially if you don’t know their
backgrounds as not all people are experts. Try to focus on the conversation when others go into detail.
Ask questions to try to really understand what they are talking about. You may learn something and they
will know you are interested. At a minimum, nod and maintain eye contact.
• Use humor wisely. Appropriate humor breaks the ice, invigorates dull conversations and makes a person
more approachable. Never tell jokes that contain bias against gender, race, religion or other groups and
affiliations.
• Listen well. Do not be one of those individuals who are constantly looking around the room to see who
else is there when in a conversation or slips you a business card and runs off to the next person. If you are
being dragged into a long conversation, find and appropriate pause in the conversation, remark on
something they just said to let them know you were listening and follow up with saying something
along the lines of, “ Well, I don’t want to take up all your time as I am sure there are other people you
would like to meet. Thank you for the conversation, it was nice to meet you Ann.”
• Exchange business cards typically at the end of a conversation or event. If someone has not offered you
his or her card, ask for one. Your request will likely result in an exchange of cards.
• Always thank the host or hostess before leaving if possible.
While all of us have some networking experience we can become more comfortable with and enjoy the experience with
practice. Whether it is online or traditional, gear up your networking skill set and get going - a world of interesting people,
experience and opportunities awaits you.
Sources:
1. http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1019
2. http://www.socialnetworkingwatch.com/all_social_networking_statistics/