For most graduate students, networking is a mystical performance that we are expected to do. We spend the majority of our time alone reading, writing, and editing – most people don’t select the academic path because they are extroverts. Yet, most of us are coached to network without any clear direction of what success looks like or what our goals should be. It’s challenging enough to talk about our research and dissertation projects with our mentors, so starting from scratch, with a stranger, can seem daunting.

Often, the problem lies in expectations. But networking is nothing more than a conversation. It can happen in a formal setting, like a conference, but it can also be as low stakes as talking to someone at the grocery store. Like all hard things, the more that you practice it, the easier it will become.

I’ve combed the internet for some of the best graduate student-centered networking advice. Here, I’ll break it down into before, during, and after a networking opportunity to highlight the most common and practical pieces of advice I’ve found.

Before a networking opportunity

• Set a goal for yourself. This could be as low stakes as exchanging contact information with one person at a conference or as involved as one informational interview a week. But don’t do this arbitrarily. Instead, ask yourself: What am I hoping to gain through these interviews? How will these help me in my career path? What am I missing that these professional connections could provide?

• Curate your standard set of questions. What are some questions you could ask any person, regardless of their position or the venue?

• Practice asking your questions and prepare to answer theirs. To begin, prepare to talk about yourself: your dissertation research, your goals, and why you reached out to this individual. I recommend writing out some of this information so that you have a few key sentences, phrases, or even words you can fall back on if you get nervous.

  When considering a practice partner, I recommend reaching out to a professor in your home department with whom you’re less familiar. As someone within the same discipline, this person will be able to provide feedback that is productive and germane, without the stress of practicing with one of your committee members. This connection will also help you broaden your academic community and may be a potential mentor down the road.

  If you need a little extra help selling your skills and speaking about yourself confidently without sounding pompous, check out the Inside Higher Ed article, “Why Do We Talk Badly About Ourselves?”

• Do your homework, both about the person with whom you’ll be speaking and their current position. This shouldn’t take you long; a quick skim of their LinkedIn profile or their CV should do the trick.

  If you set up a meeting because you may switch careers or fields, be sure to do some research into the norms, priorities and stakes in that type of work. Remember, if you’ve taken the assessments at ImaginePhD, the careers section includes questions that are field-specific.

During a networking opportunity

• Dress in a way that makes you feel like a superhero. Of course, this will partially be determined by the venue, but be sure that you feel confident.

• Say thank you at the beginning, at the end, and in a follow-up email. In these types of situations, you can never be too gracious: this person has taken time out of their schedule to chat or give you advice, often without asking anything in return, so be sure to acknowledge that.

• Be prepared to contribute beyond simply describing your experiences. Although you are seeking advice from someone who is an expert, you too are an expert. Another Inside Higher Ed article, “Positive Communication in Your Career Conversations,” specifically mentions being prepared to make recommendations to your interlocutor. If you think they would find a facet of your dissertation research relevant, share it!

• Ask meaningful questions, specifically ones that require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, to start a conversation. The more open the question, the better and more thorough the response. Consider:

  • What was your path to your current position?

  • What surprised you most about your career path?

  • What advice would you give your younger self?

• Be sure to follow the flow of the conversation. You interlocutor may mention something completely unexpected which may become the focus of your discussion – that’s okay! It’s more important that you listen to their answers and engage in conversation than get answers to all of your questions.

• Respect your interlocutor’s time. For example, if you scheduled a 20-minute phone conversation, don’t go over that amount unless they give you permission and say they have the flexibility to do so.

• In a group setting, be sure to include everyone in the conversation.

After a networking opportunity

• Jot down key take-aways from the conversation. Even if your discussion made a strong impression, it can be easy to forget details.

• Send a thank you, whether by snail mail or email, right away. Although it seems old school, sending a short, handwritten thank you note can be much more impactful than an email. In addition to thanking them for their time, you should personalize the message according to your conversation. For example, “I really appreciated you sharing your experience as an intern with me,” or “I would definitely be interested in reading (a recommended article), thank you for the suggestion!”

• Follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter. Out of courtesy, I like to double-check and ask permission, but it’s usually considered acceptable if their profiles are public.

• Follow-up. Maintaining the relationship you’ve started to build can be tricky. Opportunities in academia include organizing a conference together, congratulating them on article publications, or chatting about a recently published book. You can approach non-academic connections the same way. If you see a local talk they may be interested in, send them the link! These messages don’t have to be long and can include notes such as: “Dear (Name), I hope this message finds you well! I saw this event and it reminded me of (topic) that we chatted about during our conversation. I thought you may be interested.”

If you’re feeling excited and looking for a place to start but don’t plan to attend any conferences in the near future, keep your eye out for some of these regularly occurring events and opportunities in Pittsburgh:

• There are groups specifically geared towards highly educated, young people who are looking to build a network. PGH Versatile PhD holds happy hours at rotating locations on an almost monthly basis. Pittsburgh Young Professionals is an interdisciplinary group that has a bent towards the non-profit sector.

• Public talks and events are opportunities to mingle with speakers and like-minded audience members. Green Building Alliance’s Inspire Speakers Series showcases individuals who are making a difference in the environment locally and beyond. You could also sign up for a class, such as the short term courses at the Carnegie Museum of Art, where you can learn and make connections.

• Any and all volunteering is a wonderful way to meet people, give back to your community, and build a diverse, marketable skill set.

• Don’t forget that there are opportunities on campus, too. Check out the regularly scheduled talks in the Humanities Center to build a scholarly community outside of your discipline. In addition, your network of graduate students can help you more than you realize. Take a look at the list of committees through Pitt’s A&S GSO: you can meet your peers and add a line to your CV.

• If you’re more athletically inclined, Pittsburgh has one of the largest networks of intramural sports leagues in the nation. Sign up for a kickball or soccer team where you can get in a workout and meet some new people through PSL!

Don’t be afraid to go to these events alone! In fact, attending by yourself can work to your advantage. A tried and true opener for me is, “Hello, I don’t know anyone here, do you mind if I sit with you?”

Stay tuned for my last blog post as the Graduate Student Assistant, in which I discuss my year learning about the digital humanities and how it changed my scholarship!

Kylie R.J. Seltzer 
PhD Candidate | Department of the History of Art and Architecture 
Graduate Student Assistant | "Humanities Careers" Project 
@KylieRJSeltzer | kylieseltzer@pitt.edu