I’m still catching up on postings about the Feb-May 2019 WIBS meetings! Below is a belated posting about the March 2019 WIBS meeting on networking. We once again have very detailed notes from the meeting (attached with this blog post) so that people can check out the full list of networking suggestions. This month’s meeting summary and notes/minutes are courtesy of Rachel Hammelman – thanks Rachel!
Meeting summary: The March 2019 WIBS meeting focused on networking and making connections. We discussed why making connections is important in your career as well as for your mental health and building a support network. Conferences are one of the main ways to create connections, and one of the best ways to approach them is to have goals in mind going in. Know beforehand which people you would like to have a conversation with, which posters you would like to check out, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to interact with people you don’t know. We were reminded that everyone at conferences wants to make connections and is most likely feeling as awkward as you are, so feel get out there and introduce yourself to people.
We also talked through more specific scenarios that come with making connections, such as how to initiate conversations with new people, how to end a conversation without feeling rude, and how to traverse a sea of posters with grace. We also discussed a very important topic of alcohol at conferences and the expectation to drink and stay out late. In general, most people will not actually care if you aren’t drinking and having a cup in your hand of your non-alcoholic drink of choice will most likely evade any further questions. We had a really great discussion on conferences and general networking, and some of the main takeaways would be to a) not be afraid to directly contact people you want to talk to (ask them to meet over coffee!) b) take breaks because constant socializing can be exhausting and c) own who you are and don’t compromise just because of a cultural norm.
The last part of our discussion wrapped up with networking outside of conferences and why having connections with many different types of people is the best way to approach networking. It is great to know the most important people in your field, but it is equally as important to have close peers within and outside of your department. These peers can be a great resource for collaborations, guest speakers, and a path to meet new people.