Looking forward
In a networking workshop, we first look at profiles on professional social media like LinkedIn. Then I want to know what other networking activities the participants pursue. Finally, I ask them where they plan to develop after their PhD or postdoc. Yannis takes the floor: “I’d like to go straight into the chemical industry after completing my doctorate.”
You show what you've done so far, but not where you want to develop
Yannis has described his previous experiences clearly and understandably in his LinkedIn profile. He attends conferences recommended by his boss, where he presents the results of his research to the specialist audience.
“You show what you’ve done so far, but not where you want to develop,” I say. And he’s not an isolated case. Most participants take the same approach.
On social media and in our application documents, we can describe ourselves in a way that makes us relevant and discoverable for our desired network partners and employers. An “Open to Work” badge above the profile picture isn’t enough. For example: Sarah wanted to move into industry after an extended postdoc. During her postdoc, she completed preparatory work for her supervisor on a spin-off project. Instead of omitting this – in her view – unsuccessful experience, she could describe it on her CV and on social media: “Feasibility study for a spin-off from Prof. Mayer’s research group.” While her profile immediately shows that she’s scientifically proficient, employers in industry are more interested in whether she can function in a non-academic environment and are happy if Sarah gives more space to these experiences.
You also have freedom in choosing what you do and how you do it within your network. Are you interested in collaborating with industry? Then look for conferences or other networking events where delegates from academia and industry meet. Is there someone specific you want to meet there? Then look for overlaps with other delegates in advance. Do you share interests with your target person that you can use as starting points for a conversation? Is there someone in your network who could put you in touch with them?
With a little thought, preparation, and creativity, you can actively manage the development of your network and align it with your personal goals.
This article was first published in Nachrichten aus der Chemie (issue 11-2021). See here the German original.
If you´re interested in developing your network, you can check out our talk LinkedIn for scientists.