Yes. You should be networking… now. We know it can be daunting to think about building a professional network as an undergraduate or even graduate student. But, the reality of the situation is that building a professional network will likely open many doors and possibilities for you. And most importantly, the sooner you start to network, the sooner you can start gaining additional knowledge and skills to help you do your job better or get that job you want.
What is networking?
Networking is defined as “behaviors that are aimed at building, maintaining and using informal relationships that possess the (potential) benefit of facilitating work-related activities of individuals by voluntarily granting access to resources and maximizing common advantages” (Wolff & Moser, 2009, pp. 196-197). At its heart, networking is about building and maintaining relationships with people which may lead to a mutually beneficial exchange at some point in the future. Typically, the result of the exchange will influence one’s professional development.
Is networking just about furthering my career?
No. Most people think of networking as making contacts for a job or business deal (Dattner, 2008). However, networking is not about short-term or temporary connections (Dattner, 2008; Rangwala, 2012). Networking involves establishing and building professional relationships that you will maintain over a significant period of time (Porter & Woo, 2015). In our experiences, we have found that over the years your professional contacts will even become your social friends.
Why should I bother networking?
Have you heard the phrase, “it is not what you know but who you know?” We often tell our students that what you know gets you in the room but it is who you know that will get you a seat at the table. You should network if you are passionate about your field and want to be engaged in the discipline. Networking allows you to exchange resources with others (e.g., helping one another), and it can provide you with social support, as well as trusted colleagues who you can turn to as a sounding board (Porter & Woo, 2015). Furthermore, a little networking has the potential to expand your contact list exponentially.
When you network and make a new contact, suddenly there is potential for you to now have access to all the contacts that individual has made. It may be the case that your skill level or expertise is needed by someone your original contact knows and they put you two in touch with each other. By making a single contact, now you’ve made two. This in turn can lead to additional contacts and so forth.
How do I get started?
Many times you can network through your current faculty members. As a student, it may be the case that your faculty member asks you to reach out to one of their contacts to secure information (i.e., sample survey for a project, archival data, etc.). Although this may seem like a chore, it’s actually a great opportunity to make a connection with someone in the field (i.e., get your foot in the door). Later, you can follow up with this contact at an event such as a conference.
This leads us to another common place to network: at conferences. Conferences will sometimes have social hours which you can attend to meet people. For example, the Southwestern Psychological Association (SWPA) hosts a social hour at the beginning of their convention where attendees can meet one another and discuss topics of shared interest while enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres. If you are attending a psychological conference, check the schedule for breakfast discussion groups or evening social hours and take advantage of these opportunities.
If you do not feel comfortable attending events with a social focus, you can also network at talks and poster sessions at conferences. These events provide a natural opportunity for you to meet individuals and exchange ideas. In fact, presenters want you to attend their sessions. No presenter wants to give a talk to an empty room. You are helping them by attending, showing an interest in their work, and asking relevant questions.
What exactly do I need to do?
Whether you are following-up with a referral from a faculty member or going to a conference, it is important to be prepared. For example, if you are going to a conference, find out ahead of time who is attending that you might want to meet (Bortz, 2016). Prepare some questions in advance should you have the opportunity to meet these individuals (Brooks, 2010). This will help reduce some of your stress.
What should I not do?
- Don’t get overwhelmed. You do not have to become a networking guru overnight. Rather, select a few networking events to attend and keep in mind you do not have to stay the entire time (May, 2006).
- Don’t forget social etiquette. We hope you are very excited to start meeting new colleagues. But, do not forget social etiquette. For example, do not interrupt a presentation to introduce yourself to the speaker. Instead, wait until the presentation is over and follow-up with the speaker then. Similarly, don’t walk up to a poster and interrupt someone else asking questions. Wait until it is your turn to ask a question or join the ongoing conversation at an appropriate time.
What if I am introverted?
There are lots of resources available which are tailored for individuals who are more introverted. Two examples include:
- Bortz, D. (Jan. 12, 2016). 7 Networking Tips for introverts. Retrieved from http://time.com/money/4166743/networking-tips-introverts/.
- Brooks, K. (Oct. 31, 2010). Networking 101 for introverts. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/career-transitions/201010/networking-101-introverts.
Now what?
After you have met colleagues with shared interests, be sure to stay in contact. Think of how you can help one another. Often times this can be as simple as exchanging research ideas or touching base with your new contact to see if you can meet up in the future to discuss developments in your discipline. If you are unsure of how to stay in contact (e.g., what does that first email sound like), ask a faculty member to help you. After all, your faculty member was in your exact spot at some point in their career and they too probably had help learning to network.
References
Bortz, D. (Jan. 12, 2016). 7 Networking Tips for introverts. Retrieved from http://time.com/money/4166743/networking-tips-introverts/.
Brooks, K. (Oct. 31, 2010). Networking 101 for introverts. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/career-transitions/201010/networking-101-introverts.
Dattner, B. (May 04, 2008). The psychology of networking. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/credit-and-blame-work/200805/the-psychology-networking.
May, R. (Dec. 6, 2006). How to network: For introverts. Retrieved from http://www.businesspundit.com/how-to-network-for-introverts/.
Porter, C.M., & Woo, S.E. (2015). Untangling the networking phenomenon: A dynamic psychological perspective on how and why people network. Journal of Management, 41(5), 1477-1500. doi:10.1177/0149206315582247.
Rangwala, S. (Oct. 9, 2012). Networking 101. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/jobs_articles/2012/10/09/dbb7d628-121d-11e2-be82-c3411b7680a9_story.html.
Wolff, H.-G., & Moser, K. (2009). Effects of networking on career success: A longitudinal study. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94 (1), 196-206.
About the authors
Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, PhD, is currently the chair and professor of psychology at Fort Hays State University (FHSU). Bonds-Raacke is past president of SWPA, and her primary research interests are the psychology of mass communication, decision-making and the psychology of teaching. Prior to joining the faculty at FHSU, Bonds-Raacke served as the associate dean of the Maynor Honors College and as a faculty teaching fellow for the Teaching and Learning Center at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has also been an assistant professor and faculty advisor of the Honors Program at Briar Cliff University. Bonds-Raacke obtained her PhD and MS from Kansas State University in experimental psychology and her BA from Christian Brothers University. She has been happily married to John Raacke for over 15 years and they have two daughters, Callie and Brooke.
John Raacke, PhD, is currently chair and associate professor in the department of criminal justice at Fort Hays State University. His primary research interests are juror/jury decision-making, team decision-making and the impact of social networking sites. Prior to joining the faculty at FHSU, Raacke served as the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, an academic affairs administrative fellow and chair of the Internal Review Board at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Raacke earned his PhD and MS from Kansas State University in experimental psychology and his BA from Christian Brothers University. Raacke is originally from southern Louisiana and enjoys cooking Cajun food for his family.
Samantha Elliott, BS, is currently a first year industrial/organizational psychology doctoral student at The University of Oklahoma (OU). Her current research focuses on leader plan and vision formation. Prior to attending OU, Elliott completed her AA at Dodge City Community College and subsequently transferred to Fort Hays State University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. While at FHSU, she was awarded the Psychology Department's Outstanding Student Award in both her Junior and Senior year and also the 2016 Undergraduate Student of the Year Award for the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.