Networking: Not Just for CEOs and Stockbrokers
Networking. What's the first image that popped into your head?
Men in business suits smoking cigars and sitting in club chairs?
Business owners pretending to care about each others' products and services while simultaneously trying to sell their own products and services?
Awkward grad school mixers that you only go-to for the free food while awkwardly conversing with PIs and post-docs?
How about the absolute best tactic for finding your next job?
Or a way to feel supported in your career path, and more empowered to speak up and push back against unfair policies?
Networking As a Job Search Strategy
In my conversations with women in tech, I noticed two patterns: First, there seems to be a mindset of "more is better" when applying for a job. Second, people who reported finding a job easily did not make a dent in their job search until they called upon their network.
Why "more" is definitely NOT better:
Have you noticed that when you're applying to jobs online, you get prompted to enter all the same information that's already in your resume or LinkedIn profile to each company's online job portal? This is because the flood of applications for every position means that it's not feasible for a human being to read every resume. Companies are instead relying on computer programs to scan applications and filter the choices down to the handful that an actual human will then pick up and read.
What this means for you, my job searching friend is two-fold. First, every application you submit is very time-consuming because you're re-entering all this information for each application. Second, if you're not tailoring your application to really match what the post is looking for, then your resume is going straight to the discard before a human even has a chance to view it.
Maybe you're thinking, ok that just means I have to really streamline my process, get awesome at creating canned responses to the most common questions, and maximize your keywords- right? Wrong. This FastCompany article details how even a sophisticated bot sending out thousands of applications had a call-back rate of almost zero.
I spoke to a grad student at UMass Medical school this week who told me that after her masters' program she sent out hundreds of resumes. None of them resulted in an offer, but she DID find a job because someone she met at a networking event told her about a position opening up and gave her an introduction to the hiring manager. While she didn't initially get a response, she followed up and continued to follow up in a non-harassing manner with the objective of staying top-of-mind. Three emails later, she was called in for an interview and landed the position.
Yes, networking and using referrals take time and energy. However, the ROI of your time and energy focusing on the jobs you really want and following through on your networking is MUCH higher than if you invested that same time and energy throwing hundreds of applications into the world and hoping for the best.
Did you know?
Every month, I curate a list of the best networking in the Boston - Providence area for women in science, tech, and business. It is just one of the many ways I serve my subscribers. Interested? See the calendar here!
Networking doesn’t have to be hard. Sometimes, it’s actually fun!
Networking as Support in Your Career
In the survey responses from women in STEM careers, one thing stood out in the stories. Women who had a mentor or supportive team were much more satisfied with their careers and opportunities than those who were on their own.
I asked women in managerial positions who reported being able to advocate major work culture changes what they felt allowed them to push back and make an impact where so many others were afraid of a backlash. Every single one of them had a mentor or sponsor who was higher in the company ladder, someone who they knew "had their back" and would advocate for them. I heard stories from women who were afraid to tell their boss that they were pregnant and were told: "I'm investing in you for the long term, not just the next 9 months."
Even those with less supportive bosses who had a mentor who worked in a completely different company were more confident. They were able to use their mentor as a sounding board, to get perspective on what was happening and felt able to move forward more strategically.
Grow Your Network With the Care of a Master Gardener
Cultivate your network by meeting people and following up on a regular basis.
If you take only one nugget of wisdom from this article, I hope it is that no matter what stage of your career you are currently in, you will start growing and nurturing your network. It's never too early or too late to strengthen your connections.
If you're still in school, create a LinkedIn profile and connect to your professors and internship managers. If you're working in your first job, maintain your network with "soft touches" - schedule an hour a week to cycle through your contacts with an email or a DM to check-in and refresh memories or get an update. A simple "how are you? It's been a long time!" is sufficient.
Are you currently job-hunting and have a company you'd love to get hired at? Search your network for a contact and start making calls and coffee chats.
Looking for a mentor? Invite someone to meet for drinks after work. It's ok if they say no, but keep looking, keep inviting - it's worth your time and effort.
Try this quiz from the Greater Good Science Center to determine your current "social capital" and receive specific suggestions on how to expand your network!