“It’s not about what you know; it’s who you know.” It’s a phrase we’ve all heard at some point in our lives and, while we’d all like to think that it’s not completely true, there’s no denying that building a base of contacts in your chosen career is beneficial.
In academia, meeting the right person can lead to a research collaboration, or it could lead to your work being shared with someone who can use it to make a difference. It could lead to public speaking opportunities or even mentorship. It all goes towards your long-term success.
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For some of us, the idea of putting yourself out there in that way – of making an active effort to meet new people – is terrifying.
Help! I’m an introvert
I’m not ashamed to say that I am one of those people. For my friends, that would come as a surprise. Outwardly, I’m a bubbly and enthusiastic person. Throughout my PhD, however, I was hit by impostor syndrome and dreaded the networking sections of conferences that I attended.
Questions would race through my mind as my heart thudded nervously.
“What do I talk about?”
“Am I smart enough to hold a conversation with this academic?”
“DO I REALLY HAVE TO DO THIS?”
In crowded rooms, I’d feel alone.
Over time, I grew in confidence. Yet, looking back, I know I could have done better. I can’t go back in time and give my younger self this advice, but hopefully it can help you, if you feel similarly to how I did.
Here’s how to network as an introverted academic.
Networking can be fun
At face value, this seems like useless advice. However, there are plenty of activities that essentially let you network by accident. For example, I took part in a lot of knowledge exchange activities, things like Three-Minute Thesis and Science Slam competitions, and speaking at postgraduate inductions. They are opportunities to present the passion for your subject to a room full of people, and I found that people approached me to chat, rather than the other way around.
This paved the way for me to be involved in more formal exchanges, including round-table discussions with politicians, diplomats and ministers from Germany, India, Papua New Guinea and Australia. It led to me presenting my research at the Scottish parliament and the 2020 World Dubai Expo.
Outreach activities are key networking opportunities
Sticking with the theme of networking by accident, outreach activities – things like school visits, career fairs and science festivals – are great opportunities to build networks. You don’t attend these events with networking in mind, but it ends up happening quite naturally. Removing the sense of dread from the idea of networking is so powerful and helpful, and these events create opportunities to have conversations about the event in hand. These conversations don’t even feel like networking, but that’s absolutely what they are.
The largest outreach activity I was involved in was the Food Security Design Sprint, which involved more than 300 secondary school pupils from Papua New Guinea and Australia. The initiative saw them come up with solutions and opportunities to ensure food security that would subsequently be presented at the World Food Forum.
The event gave me the chance to meet the chief scientist at the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization in a non-intimidating way, while similar outreach activities have led to interviews with major media outlets.
Always lend a helping hand
Volunteering might not be something you feel you have capacity to do. Too much work, too little time – right?
But believe me when I say it’s highly advantageous. Not only is it an opportunity for you to give back to your local community, but it also helps you build your academic brand, stand out professionally, learn transferable skills and expand your professional network.
Over the years I have actively volunteered, doing things like running clothing drives, fundraising and organising events for schoolchildren to inspire the next generation of scientists.
All of these activities have had a common theme, which was being a STEM ambassador and an advocate for good quality education. Crucially, it has helped me to meet high-profile individuals in a dread-free setting, expanding my network and creating opportunities.
Get to know professional services staff
If professional services staff at your university are speaking at an event, attend it. Whether it’s marketing and communications, widening access or other areas, there’s a good chance they will approach you – but even if they don’t, there could be obvious windows in which to approach them in a way that does not feel intimidating.
Engaging with communications has helped me to attend media training sessions with the BBC and STV, and it’s opened up writing and speaking opportunities, including this very article. Again, you can build your brand and your research profile, making valuable new contacts in a low-stress way.
Ultimately, if you identify as an introvert, try not to worry. I was a shy girl from Papua New Guinea with a passion for science, and slowly but surely I stepped out of my comfort zone. It was a gradual process, but that’s OK – your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Today, I have a network that spans six continents, with people in all areas of life. Take it slowly and don’t pressure yourself – gradually and naturally, you’ll build the network you need.
Yalinu Poya is a lecturer in environmental science at the University of the West of Scotland.
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