I got my job in industry through networking, and I’m not ashamed to admit that (or at least, I’m trying not to be). Throughout this blog, we’ve talked about networking extensively: reviews of networking events, our personal experiences with networking, tips on how to improve your network, but I think we’ve missed addressing a critical notion holding graduate students and postdocs back from their networking best:
Reaping the benefits of your network is not a moral violation.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people give the excuse, “Well, I want to get a job based on my own merit! I can’t use my connections to get a job like that. I would feel dirty.” In an ideal world, of course, everyone would be considered equally based on their on-paper accomplishments and the best suited candidate (probably chosen by a computer program) would be hired every single time. The problem is that “best candidate” would literally never be you because each and every one of us is more than what can be conveyed by a single-page resume.
The feeling that networking and gaining advantages through said network is somehow a violation of one’s morality is more often experienced in the more junior stages of one’s career, says one study by Casciaro et al. Senior level professionals, however, see networking as more of a “give and take”. They are confident that they have skills or knowledge to offer, thereby making networking an exchange, rather than what early-stage professionals see as a favor (or cronyism). I believe this impression by early-career scientists is heavily rooted in imposter syndrome, which is why I sometimes struggle with the above opening statement. After all, if you believe your entire career thus far has been simply luck and you’ve just fooled everyone into thinking you’re a scientist, of course you’re not going to believe you have valuable skills to contribute to a position that is being offered to you. Networking doesn’t get you a job because you’re nice, or a good friend, or because someone is feeling generous. Networking works because you are a valuable asset and someone believes you are the right fit for their position. The bottom line here is that it’s okay to network, and it doesn’t make you a bad person or a ‘suck up’. The purpose of networking is to mutually benefit both parties; there’s absolutely no reason to feel ‘dirty’ for exploring job opportunities that may present themselves through your network.
Well iJOB-ers, this is my last blog post for now. Feel free to contact me via LinkedIn if you have questions about pharma life, are looking for advice, or just need someone to listen. Remember, you’re valuable, you deserve this PhD, and your best days are yet to come!