A presentation for PhD students and researchers summarising key networking activities to assist with career planning and progression.

1. NETWORK YOUR WAY TO
A SUCCESSFUL CAREER
Sarah Blackford
Academic & science career specialist
www.biosciencecareers.org
www.sebiology.org

2. WHY NETWORK?
Because:
 Over 50% jobs are not advertised.
 It gets you noticed.
 It helps you to be more informed.
 People like to help other people, especially
if they think they are making an effort.
 Work is people!

3. Definition of ‘networking’?
Communicating
Connecting
Collaborating

4. Examples of networking
 Conferences/seminars/workshops
 Industry/business: internships-collaborations-visits
 Activities, social events
 Informal: Chatting in the coffee room/corridor
 Specialised clubs and learned societies
 Social media: Blogging (Twitter, Blogs), LinkedIn
Online platforms: Researchgate, Mendeley
 Online networks: Google+
 Email, Discussion lists

5. F
Dozens of Bioscience societies – Europe/USA
 Reduced registration to conferences
 Travel grants
 Lab visits
 Specialised workshops
 Newsletters
 Mentoring
 Networking with members
cus on learned societies

6. F
Information gathering/disseminating –
Attending/presenting talks and view posters
Career/specialist workshops
Job shops
Networking –
Talking to people
Giving your name/contact details
Getting names/contact details
cus on conferences

7. F
LinkedIn Used by professionals/business
Company & job searches
Can join specialist groups
Professional personal profile
Twitter More casual/random
Gathering information/signposting papers,
blogs, etc.
Jobs, courses and meetings mentioned
cus on social media

8. LinkedIn

9. LinkedIn

10. Twitter

11. What are your key ‘selling points’?
1. Name, where, who you work for/with
2. What you’re working on – broad picture
3. What you’re working on – specifics
4. Future ideas, prospects?
5. Personal interests?
Over to you:

12. NETWORKING
A two-way process!

13. Passion – engagement and enjoyment
Using body language/space
Varied use of voice – tone/volume
Gestures
Eye Contact
Humour
COMMUNICATION OUTPUT:
COMMUNICATION INPUT:
Active listening
Eye contact/nodding/smiling
Leaning in/forward
Asking questions
Making comments/adding more

14. Twitter Profile examples:
“Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Researcher in heart failure, calcium handling,
and conformational dynamics of ion pumps.”
“PhD. EMBO Postdoctoral fellow at CRG, Barcelona. Keywords:
computational biology, genetics, evolution, science, genomics, R,
python, photography, Raspberry Pi”
“TCRN Research Fellow with background in virology, microbiology and
cancer research, and passionate about global health, community and
living sustainably”
“Great ape geek & feminist atheist. Tweets mostly about primates,
conservation, science & human rights. Also been known to climb on
soap box when necessary.”

15. Barriers to networking
 Nothing to say/nothing in common
 Lack of confidence/lack of motivation
 Language
 Hierarchy
 Other people’s attitudes
 Personality – naturally introverted/extraverted
 Situation (eg is it face-to-face, on-line, writing,
activities, national, local …)

16. Barriers to networking
 Engage with networking activities/platforms
 Prepare
 Start ‘small’
 Find common ground
 Be aware of your behaviour, and others
 Be friendly, approachable – Smile
 Step out of your comfort zone
 Read widely, connect, disseminate (social media)
Overcoming

17. Preparation
 Have a plan of action for a conference
 Post an appropriate (and full) profile and
photo according to the social media
platform
 Research! Google people/read papers/
company profiles etc.

18. Networking at work …

19. Sarah Blackford
BLOG: www.biosciencecareers.org
SEB WEBSITE: www.sebiology.org
EMAIL: s.blackford@lancaster.ac.uk
LINKEDIN:
www.linkedin.com/pub/sarah-
blackford/10/b72/968
TWITTER: @Bioscicareer