Networking

Networking matters – no matter what stage of your career you have reached. Networking is all about making contacts, sharing information and ideas, and finding out about possibilities and opportunities.

Networking will help you learn more about where you would like to work and how to go about it. For women on a career break or looking to change career, reconnecting with and expanding your networks is crucial.

• Join GetSET Women, our online community of women in SET. Regular newsletters will keep you informed of events and professional development opportunities. You can also search GetSET Women for networks and other members.
• Find a network in your area

Ruth Allington, Consultant Engineering Geologist and Joint Senior Partner at GWP Consultants LLP, says that women should not be put off if they do not feel confident at formal networking events:

“I’m not comfortable with speed networking or acres of men in suits. I’ve worked out that the important thing in networking is making a connection and listening rather than going for the big sell. It can just start as pleasant conversation about music or kids. People then find out about the work that you do almost as an incidental, but they remember you.”

Make the most of your networks

• Keep an open mind. Treat everyone you meet as a potentially useful contact. You never know what the future brings and sometimes contacts that seem obscure at the outset turn out to be valuable in time.
• Be generous. Help your contacts if you can. In networking you reap what you sow.
• Be yourself. Don’t try too hard to impress. People you meet will respond much more positively to you if you are relaxed and genuine.
• Always give your name – but don’t expect the other person to remember it!

Use business cards

• Carry business cards with you all the time, and give them to people. Don’t just hand them out - check if the person wants one, or ask for theirs first and give yours in exchange.
• Make a note on the back of cards you get of who you met (sometimes a brief description will help you to remember them), when and where you met, and why you swapped cards. Keep the cards you collect in a safe place, and transfer details to your electronic database if you have one.

Follow up your contacts

• Follow up quickly. If you promised to make contact or send something to someone you meet, do so as soon as possible while the contact is still ‘warm’.
• Keep in touch. Try to send the occasional email to your contacts with your news.  Call in to see people occasionally (if appropriate), or send a card, and remember to let people know if you change jobs or addresses.

Practice among friends

• If you are very nervous about professional networking, look for opportunities to practice in less formal environments. For instance, you could join the Parents Association at your children’s school, join a social club or start a book group and invite two or three friends to bring along their friends.

Enjoy networking!

• It can be daunting – but once you get started, meeting people can be a real pleasure.

Dr Anna Ferguson  successfully returned to a career in engineering at NaREC (New and Renewable Energy Centre)

Anna advises women looking to change career or return after a break:

"Don't wait for your perfect job to be advertised, you need to go out and find it! Talk to people from within the industry you are looking to enter for advice and seek different opinions."