PHYS 1000 – Building a Network

Building a Network

Having great credentials and experiences are important when you begin a job search, but networking—making professional contacts—is often just as important. Personal contacts can provide guidance and expand your access to opportunities, particularly those that may not be widely advertised. 

Experts estimate that over 80% of jobs are found through networking. While this might seem daunting, networking is about the human connection so it makes sense that an employer would hire someone they’ve met and known rather than trust a document (resume/CV). Therefore, it is crucial to start building your network early.

The good news is you already have a network which can be expanded. Your classmates, professors, and even friends and family members are part of your network. Some of these connections are your mentors who know you and can support you along your career trajectory. Others can offer insight into specific career paths or industries. Each connection could also introduce you to a new network member.

There are lots of additional tools to help you increase the size, and diversity, of your connections.

Learning Objective: identify specific ways to build your network to meet people who can support you along your career trajectory.

Network everywhere

Whether you are at a career fair, physics meeting, department colloquium, or a science outreach event, always look for new people to meet. Think of every event as a potential networking event. You never know when or where you are going to encounter your next colleague. Do not be afraid to tell people that you are looking for career advice; most people are eager to help students if they can.

Help others

Networking is about connecting with people— not just furthering your career. When you meet people, think about what you can offer them.

• Can you introduce them to potential collaborators, mentors, or colleagues?
• Provide them with resources or leads that might further their research?
• Offer restaurant recommendations for when they are visiting your area?

This approach makes networking much less intimidating and can help you form meaningful and lasting connections. 

Alumni and Mentor Networks

UNG’s department of Physics & Astronomy keeps track of alumni and even has a list of past physics students. Check out these lists and ask faculty or staff in the department for an introduction. You could also reach out to these folks yourself, just make sure you mention the point of connection, e.g. your school or department. 

APS IMPact Program

The APS Industry Mentoring for Physicists (IMPact) program connects you directly with industry physicists who have signed up to mentor students. As long as you’re an APS member, you can sign up and start connecting with mentors today!

Join the IMPact program

Become a member of APS (1st year free for undergrads)

Networking at Professional Meetings and Career Fairs

Another great venue for networking are professional society meetings. Of course, you can attend talks by individuals you are interested in connecting with, but you should also take advantage of other opportunities such as:

• Attending career panels and networking events, which often feature physicists from industrial or other non-academic backgrounds
• Attending the APS Career Fair, where you can meet with recruiters from companies and find out what they are looking for in a candidate
• Visiting companies in the Exhibit Hall, many of which are technical companies hiring physicists, to learn about their organization and build contacts

Get involved!

Attend your department, college, or university professional events. UNG’s department of Physics & Astronomy hosts guest speakers and invites scientists to campus events. Make every effort to attend these events and hear the speakers. Ask questions and introduce yourself after the event. Use these opportunities to practice your elevator pitch. This gives you a perfect chance to follow up and connect with speakers and other professionals that you meet on LinkedIn or via email.

Ask questions!

One of the simplest ways to start a conversation is by asking, “So, what do you do?” After this, the conversation should progress fluidly if you show interest in what the person is telling you. Other questions you might ask new connections include:

• How has your physics background helped you in your career?
• What advice would you give a physics major who wants to go into your field?
• What opportunities does your company have for physics students?
• What do you like most about your career (or company)?

Listen carefully, make appropriate comments, and ask thoughtful questions. People love to share their stories, so let them and wait for an invitation to relate to your experiences. They will often ask about you in return.

Exchange contact information

If you would like to maintain a new connection, don’t be afraid to ask someone if you can follow up later by email or phone. Business cards are an easy way to give a new connection your contact information, leave a good impression, and look professional—even if they only say “Physics Student.” When you receive a card from someone else, write a brief description of how you met the person and what you discussed on the back. For example: aapt Summer Meeting 2017, email re: summer research opportunities. 

Network online

Stay in contact with new connections through online networking sites such as LinkedIn. Use key word searches on these sites to find people with your dream job or company and ask your connections to introduce you. Also ask your professors or career services office if they can connect you with alumni in your desired profession via email. Don’t forget about former class/lab mates!

Cultivate relationships

A person you talk to only once will not be a strong part of your network. Send updates to your connections to let them know how school is going, where you are in your search, or to pass along information of interest. Ask them about the project or life event they mentioned the last time you spoke. The idea here is to have a strong foundation with each person, not just a transactional relationship that you call on when you need something.

Project a positive attitude

Go into networking events with a positive outlook and be confident in your ability to have a meaningful conversation. When speaking, recognize that you are addressing a colleague: avoid negatives or self-depreciation (e.g., “I could never do that” or “You know so much more than me”). Think through your approach and prepare for networking opportunities before they arise. Being prepared will help you be more relaxed when you meet new people. Enjoy the opportunity to talk to new people; you never know when you will meet someone that can connect you to your next job. Have a good sense of humor and an enthusiastic attitude. Get out there, have fun, meet people, and make new connections! 

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Elevator Pitch

The two most important goals you have when networking are to be able to tell people: Who you are and What you want.

What is an “elevator pitch”? The basics

• An elevator pitch is a 30-second snapshot of who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and where you hope to go in the future. This short speech is your time to highlight your relevant skills, education, and experiences.
• The idea of the elevator pitch stems from the length of time you might spend on an elevator with a potential networking contact.
• You should practice your elevator pitch several times so that you can easily recall the highlights when an opportunity arises; however, you do not want to sound too rehearsed.
• Think of the elevator pitch as a short conversation with a purpose.
• Only use terms you think the other person is comfortable with. Avoid jargon and acronyms. 

Learning Objective: formulate an “elevator pitch” to highlight your relevant skills, education, and experiences.

What is the point?

Let’s say that you are on an elevator or standing in line for coffee at a meeting, and you notice that Nobel laureate John Mather is standing next to you. Maybe his nametag tips you off, or maybe you recognize him from a talk he gave…What do you do?

You could:

A. Get out your cell phone and post on your favorite social media channel that you are standing next to a Nobel laureate.

OR

B. Create an opportunity for yourself that could influence your future.

Since you are a resourceful person, A is out of the question. You choose B (or “C. Both A and B”). So, how do you do this? 

Give Your Elevator Pitch. 

The elevator pitch is a professional way of introducing yourself. The trick is that you’ve previously rehearsed what you want to say. The goal of the elevator pitch is to quickly demonstrate your interest and professionalism in the hopes of engaging the other person in conversation.

Hi, Dr. Mather! My name is Phyllis Physics and I am at Einstein University studying Physics. I’m in my junior year and I’m very interested in working in science policy when I graduate. Currently, I am serving as outreach coordinator for our SPS chapter. We just hosted an amazing event for 500 local middle school students. I am actively seeking summer internship opportunities and heard about the SPS Summer Internship program in Washington, DC. Could you tell me more about it?

Note: You need to develop several elevator pitches, each needs to be aimed at a different audience. For example, if you are undecided between attending graduate school and starting your career now, have an elevator speech related to both options. You can decide which one to present based on the person standing in front of you. If you plan to present your elevator pitch to someone from a specific organization or company (like a representative at a job fair), be sure to consider what they are seeking in an employee and what you can contribute when you draft that version. Most professionals have several elevator pitches prepared that begin with something like, “Hello, my name is____ and I am from ____ (company/school)…”

Another reason to have several pitches prepared is that not everyone has the same background information and vocabulary. For example, imagine if instead of Nobel prize-winner John Mather, you meet the U.S. Secretary of Energy or the head of a national lab. Each would have very different educational backgrounds and it’s important you explain yourself in a way that delivers your main message: 

What are you passionate about and where do you want to go next?

Even though you have only a short time span, the elevator pitch is an ideal time to share any relevant research and internship or work experience, in addition to any interesting skills or knowledge you have. Think of your elevator pitch as a conversation opener that invites the other person to ask for more. 

Exercise: Constructing Your Elevator Pitch

Write down short answers to the following questions. Remember, you want to answer these questions in a coherent way that highlights your potential in 30 seconds. Stick to the basics. Avoid elaborate embellishments. You can always fill in details if the conversation continues.

1. Who am I? (Include your name, major, and where you go to school.)
2. What are two relevant or interesting things that I have done recently?
3. What am I passionate about? What do I want to accomplish in 15 years?

Use this data to present yourself. Try arranging the facts in a few different ways until you find one that feels natural and engaging. Then repeat this process for a more specific type of audience (potential employer, informational interviewee, or advisor). 

1. General audience elevator pitch (1)
2. Specific audience elevator pitch (2)

Practice verbalizing your speech, but don’t memorize it word-for-word. You want to be comfortable with the main points but flexible enough to engage in a natural conversation and adapt to the interests or background of the person with whom you are interacting. Being sincere is important.