> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://chemissst.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Opinion: What you should know about networking - URL: https://chemissst.com/opinion-what-you-should-know-about-networking/ - Published: 2024-03-31T05:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-21T05:49:57.000Z - Author: Sasha Sundstrom - Tags: opinion, recommendations, grad school I've been planning on writing this for quite a while! Networking does not necessarily come naturally to me, but I hope that may even be more helpful than a guide written by someone who's a natural. The biggest piece of advice I got when I was in undergrad was to "network" and I did not know what that meant or how to go about it -- so I would love to share what I've learned since, in case it helps someone. **Networking 101: What Do You Mean** Ideally, networking means creating connections and building relationships with people in different positions and in different places that can be sources of information, advice, and even OTHER new connections. There are many, many ways to network effectively, including in-person events, online on Twitter and LinkedIn, and even with others at your own institution. You're probably networking without even thinking about it. Have you met fellow students in another lab and learned that they have an instrument you don't and then been able to use said instrument? You did networking! Did you talk to graduate students from different groups at visiting weekend and then connect with them via e-mail? Also networking! Did you talk to a professor who came to your university after their talk? Networking! The best thing to get over when it comes to networking is hesitation. Everyone is frankly, just a guy (gender-neutral). Most people (professors and industry professionals) in the field are willing to talk, especially about science, **especially** to students about science. If you're a student, you're in a great place to start building your network. START NOW. It's never too early, but it can CERTAINLY be too late. **Baby Steps** You're probably already networking. If you're totally not, a good starting point is to practice on folks at the same level as you - what I mean is if you're a graduate student, start networking by talking to other graduate students. One of my first and most important "network connections" was with a senior graduate student in a group other than my own. He was a huge help and a neutral third party when I had questions or issues, and when he graduated and became a post-doc, I got to ask him for advice about post-doc positions. We first connected at a department picnic a few months after I started graduate school. Other fellow grad students got to know the graduate student council and built their network from there. If you're intimidated to talk to strangers alone, bring a friend with you and network together (but not more than one friend, more on this later!) The next "baby step" is to talk to professors at your institution. Even if you don't end up working for them, they have valuable advice and potentially post-doc and industry appointment connections, and it's always nice to be on good terms with and know those in your immediate department. This is easier if your university does socials or rotations to facilitate this, but you can always send an e-mail asking to chat. Here's an example. "Good morning, Professor \[LastName\], I'm a first year graduate student in the \[Group\] Lab, and I was just wondering if you had 15-30 minutes to chat anytime in the coming weeks. I have some general questions and would also love to talk about your group's research in more depth. Thank you so much! \[Student\]" Before you go to a chat like this, look at the professor's page on the university website, read their last several published articles, and write down some questions you have based on this and on general stuff you want to know. Bring a notebook and paper when you go -- you might want to write something down. Even if you don't, it looks good to come prepared. **Conferences** I cannot stress enough how important it is to go to conferences. If you can swing a conference smaller than a full ACS meeting (regional meetings, GRSs, GRCs, NOBBChE, SACNAS, etc), this is the way to go. Present your research - submit poster and/or talk abstracts at every opportunity. If you are presenting a talk, stick around after your talk - wait at least until the session you're a part of ends. Some folks may come up to talk to you after the whole session is over, and you don't want to miss that opportunity. If you're presenting a poster, **stay by your poster the whole time** and engage with folks. A CAVEAT - sometimes people come by and look at your poster but don't talk to you, it can be really awkward. You can offer to talk them through your poster - I like to say "Hi! Let me know if you have any questions or if you'd like the "short version" of the story!" if people are loitering. Be prepared with a long version (10 minutes) and a short version (2-5 minutes) of talking through your poster. Make a note of their name and affiliation (they'll either tell you or it'll be on their name tag. If neither is true, you can ask them) - I literally keep a note in my phone and jot down names throughout poster sessions because I have a terrible memory for names. If you had a pleasant interaction with someone, find them on LinkedIn and add them after the conference.Also, if you later contact someone you met at a conference, remind them how they know you. They probably talked to at least as many people as you did, so starting the conversation (LinkedIn message or e-mail) by saying "Hello Professor \[Last Name\]! We met at GRC ORP in 2024 - you asked me about my work on epoxide ring openings." is hugely helpful. Also, attend poster sessions that you're not presenting at and talk to fellow presenters. It's a really small world, and you never know who will end up where and end up being a great connection to have. I usually note down what posters I see, as well, with a brief description of content and affiliation. And then add those people on LinkedIn. If I remember. If there are social events as part of the conference, attend the social events. There is literally no better way to network because everyone knows that that is what is happening when you attend these events. Also, don't stay clumped up with people from your graduate group or institution - be brave and go alone to talk to people you find interesting. If you ARE nervous at social events, gamify it - give yourself a goal like "I will acquire 3 business cards or LinkedIn connections", and once you meet the goal, you can leave the event. I would say the maximum amount of people who are colleagues to be together in a setting like this is two - like, you can go around with one person from your group, but three is probably too many, and doing it alone is the scariest but most effective way. Also, don't pass up a conversation or a connection just because the person isn't in the exact area you want to be in. Medicinal chemists at a company probably know at least SOME process chemists, and having a diverse network is always better. You might also meet incredible people who become lifelong friends, not just professional connections. Three of my close friends became friends when we bonded during a social outing at a chemistry conference. We are certainly ALSO professional network connections to each other, but definitely primarily personal friends. **Online Connections** One of my favorite networking stories is from a colleague who talked with a student who was interested in working on medical devices. We're chemists and don't work on medical devices necessarily, but the student met my colleague at a conference and reached out via e-mail to set up a coffee chat to learn more about the colleague's role and the company at large. These e-mails look like this: "Hi \[FirstName\], We spoke at \[Conference\] about \[Company\] and \[Their Role\] at \[event\]. I really enjoyed speaking with you and was hoping you have time for a quick virtual coffee chat sometime in the coming weeks! The only days that don't work for me are Tuesdays and Wednesdays, otherwise, my schedule is open - please let me know what works for you, if you're willing. Looking forward to connecting! Warm regards, \[Student\]" After chatting with my (once again, 100% chemist) colleague about the company and the different roles and departments, they asked if they knew someone who'd be willing to chat with them about medical devices specifically, and the colleague - super impressed - put them in touch with what ended up being a series of folks who had more pertinent information on the career path the student was interested in. Networking! Add people on LinkedIn who you talk to at conferences, and keep track of who you met where, if you don't have a good memory (again - no shame, I personally don't). I don't really have coherent advice about Twitter. If you **are** on Twitter, I think the best thing to do as a student is to post cool lab tidbits and photos and re-post articles that interest you. The hashtags I see used most often within the community are #chemtwitter and #realtimechem. Find people whose content you like and engage with it, look at who they follow for inspiration on who to follow yourself, and remember that the internet is forever, so be cordial, polite, and professional.**Don'ts** **Don't:** - Ask someone you don't know or barely know to recommend you for a job or write a letter of recommendation for you. - Forget to remind people how you know them - remember that everyone is meeting a lot of folks, and some of us have tragic memories when it comes to names. - Expect anything - be open minded and ready to talk and listen. - Be nervous - the worst thing you can get in reply to an e-mail is silence, which is just a data point for you to have. That being said, if someone doesn't e-mail you back, they may not have bandwidth at that time, so don't pester them unless you already know them very well. - Forget that it's a very small community and everyone talks to each other. Be professional. - Be afraid to be yourself - personality is important when it comes to getting hired, so be yourself (but also be open, friendly, and kind!) - Drink too much at social events. Self explanatory, I think. - Don't trash talk anyone - you never know who knows who, and again, that's not professional. Don't get a yellow card. - Try to turn a coffee chat into a job interview or an internship. Be open to it, but don't be pushy. On the other hand, ABSOLUTELY DO reach out to your contacts when you're starting to job search. People may be able to put you in touch with hiring managers, give you information about the hiring process or the department you're applying to, slide your resume onto desks, etc. Be mindful of HOW connected you are to people, and ask them for reasonable things. It's not chill to ask someone you talked to for 30 seconds to put you in touch with a hiring manager, but it IS chill to ask them for more information about the company and if they have any insight. One last example of a LinkedIn message to a "barely met" contact: "Hi \[FirstName\]! We met briefly at \[Conference\] in 2023 and I'm actually currently applying to \[Their Company\]. I would really appreciate any insight into the company (and interview process!) you might have. Thanks so much for your time!" They might even OFFER to send along your CV or put you in touch with someone as a result! If they don't answer, just remember that people get super busy and they might not be checking LinkedIn or might not have bandwidth for it at the time. It's not necessarily a slight, it's just... life. Life is LIVE. And that's all I've got. Hope this helps someone! Thanks to Srujana Lam for assistance with this write up!