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[EA#12] Network Your Way out Of Academic Misery

2024-10-08

Ahh, networking in academia…feels like people are more and more just sticking to their guns home. But in this post, I’ll re-articulate my thoughts that I audio-penned down a few days ago on my way to the gym… about making friends!

Networking is a way out of any rut. I’m sure you have read about the ​shocking statistics ​of e.g. how man jobs are never advertised and are up for grabs only through…yes, a social network who knows.

Now, the weird part: Most people still don’t understand you don’t need a permit to get in touch with people who can help you out in all things imaginable.

Reach out, ask for help, get a yes…this is a great success!

But oh what, if, they say no?

Who cares. No damage. In fact, even this just thickens your skin. You won’t care about the silence so much next time.

It’s a win-win situation.

From Rags to Riches in Academia: Just a Myth?

Let’s be honest—academia isn’t exactly packed with “rags to riches” stories. The people who tend to do well, tend to come from labs that do well and have the adequate resources and vision to support people.

And so, if you’re lucky enough to be born into a lab with ample resources — whether it’s money, talented collaborators, or just the name alone — then you’re probably not spending all your time scrambling for access to a greener patch of grass.

You get to focus on the important stuff: research, writing, and you have all the network you need inside those walls.

And by the way, if the above bit describes you, I urge you to recognise your privilege. That fancy h-index of yours, it’s not only your doing. Our environments contribute a lot to our success.

But what about when you end up in a resource-poor lab?

That’s a different story.

You’re not just short on funds. You’re short on everything: collaborators who can improve your work, access to technology, access to funds needed for trivial stuff like software licenses, no mentorship, no growth opportunities…

And worst of all: lack of those connections that can help you forward and up in your career.

You’re running the same race as everyone else, but with one leg tied behind your back.

(Note: I don’t know if that’s even possible. But it sounds painful. Which is what being short on resources is.)

How to escape?

First: Yes it’s possible to escape.

Second: It’s not easy. And it’s definitely not just about “hard work and consistency.”

It’s much more about how comfortable are you at the uncomfortable act of asking.

Networking is the lifeline when your lab cannot provide what you need to grow.

Let me give you some networking strategies to try:

1. Network Beyond the Usual Suspects

I just shot a video inside the ​PhD Power Trio​ on how to win grants. The first tip? Be human.

Here’s a secret. A lot of academic networking happens at the social level, not the formal academic level. And that means what? Parties, events, and yes, coffee breaks.

It’s NOT about walking into a conference center and presenting your research highlights and ending the talk “let’s collaborate, here’s my email” (even though that can never hurt.).

It’s ALL about being a human first and a scientist second.

Just be friendly, engage casually, and please please pretty please do not make every interaction about advancing your career. That’s desperate, and it’s not a good look.

Plus remember what I just said? Scientists are human. Humans with the freedom to choose tend to work with those they like, not those they think are smart.

Personally, when I go to academic events or conferences these days, I focus less on building new relationships because I can barely maintain my old ones. Been away for too long. Family. Other stuff in life.

But if you’re just getting started, remember this: personal connections last long and the transactional ones tend to fall flat very soon.

And on a related note… As I was reading a bit around the margins of this topic, I found this to be a great story from Reddit:

Go to conference, be human, attend, win.

So friends, here’s my advice: Gain friends, not co-authors.

2. Email is Still a Thing

I was just talking with a senior professor the other day, and we share the same pain: People now approach you via all random DM inboxes on social media.

I don’t think that’s necessarily the best idea unless you have already built some rapport on the “timeline” equivalent of the said platform…

Which is why this is where the good old email comes in!

Yes, cold emailing can feel awkward. But it works.

Reach out to people you admire, whether it’s for their input, their access to resources you don’t have, or simply their network.

Try to offer them something. You can’t just ask. Do you know they are working on something you can help with?

The one mistake I’ve also done way too often is promising to deliver but then I have not. It’s easy to spread yourself too thin with this approach. Like, if your calendar is already full, and you use the last overflowing minutes to cold-email people, what are you going to do when your new relationship would need time?

You’re screwed if you don’t follow through.

So just make sure you have the bandwidth available when you get lucky. Oh, and here’s a great actionable emailing tip: Always give people a way out. A follow-up email that says, “No worries if this isn’t a good time, happy to revisit later!” gives people the freedom to not feel any pressure. And it makes you look professional as well.

(But more often than not, it’s this second email that prompts a favourable response!)

Trust me, most people are too busy, but if you’re persistent (and respectful), you’ll eventually find that key connection.

3. Turn One Good Connection Into Many

The beauty of networking is that once it starts to work for you, it’s kind of exponential.

Once you have a good connection, just ask for access to their network. You can these days pretty easily find out who works with who and is buddies with who else. So, if you heed the earlier advice of following through, you should have no problems being recommended by your collaborators to their network.

Just don’t be shy about it. Good collaborations are, well, good. They enrich everyone’s lives. You’re doing a favour to people, not being a parasite.

People want to help when they see you’re driven and respectful. You don’t even have to be that good. Good heart and honest work get you far already.

Just always be sure to offer something in return, whether it’s your expertise, a perspective, or simply being a reliable collaborator they can always trust.

Final Words

Nope.

Just go make those friends!

About the author 

Simo Hosio  -  Simo is an award-winning scientist, Academy Research Fellow, research group leader, professor, and digital builder. This site exists to empower people to build passion projects that support professional growth and make money.

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