Networking for Nerds: Find, Access and Land Hidden Game-Changing Career Opportunities Everywhere

246 Pages·2015·1.73 MB·English

by  Alaina G. Levine

Networking for Nerds

Networking for Nerds
Find, Access and Land Hidden
Game-Changing Career
Opportunities Everywhere
Alaina G. Levine
Copyright©2015byJohnWiley&Sons,Inc.Allrightsreserved
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData:
Levine,AlainaG.
Networkingfornerds:find,accessandlandhiddengame-changingcareeropportunities
everywhere/byAlainaG.Levine.
pagescm
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN978-1-118-66358-5(pbk.)
1. Businessnetworks. 2. Careerdevelopment. I. Title.
HD69.S8L4752015
650.1′3–dc23
2014049388
Coverimage:PhotobyPeteBrown
10987654321
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my mother, Susan Levine, who taught me to
always look for, seek out and ask for opportunities, no matter the per-
ceivedobstacle,andwhoseloveandconfidenceinmyabilitieshashelped
meachievemywildestdreams;andtomybrotherJoshuaLevine,whose
support, love, and laughter has ensured I remain sane along our road
together.
“AlainaG.LevineisaNetworkingNinja.I’velearnedalotfromherthat
hashelpedmegetwhereIamtoday,andifyoufollowevenhalftheadvice
in this book, you’ll be networking better than most scientists I’ve met.
You’llimmediatelyseedirect,tangiblebenefitsforyourcareer.”
Dr.KevinB.Marvel
ExecutiveOfficer
AmericanAstronomicalSociety
Ifyouwantagreatjob,ifyouwanttoforgenewprofessionalconnections,
you’ll need to network. Anxious about getting started? Don’t be. Once
you’vereadAlainaG.Levine’snewguide,you’lldiscoverthatnetwork-
ingisnatural,effective – andevenfun!
CharlesDay
OnlineEditor
PhysicsToday
This wonderful book is for both those who are new to networking and
those who are seasoned networkers. You will learn novel techniques to
helpyounavigateandsucceedintheprofessionalworldandopenyour
eyestonewcareerdirections.Itprovidesadown-to-earth,commonsense
approachtonetworkingandwillultimatelyhelpyouachieveyourcareer
goals.IhighlyrecommendNetworkingforNerds!
MichelleHorton,CMP
DirectorofAdministrationandMeetings
EcologicalSocietyofAmerica
Alaina G. Levine has provided thousands of AGU’s student and early
careermemberswithinvaluableadviceduringherwebinars,workshops,
and one-on-one consultations. With the release of Networking for Nerds,
scientistsaroundtheworldwillhaveaccesstoAlaina’sreal-worldexperi-
enceandexpertiseinthecomfortoftheirownhomesandoffices.
ChrisMcEntee
ExecutiveDirector/CEO
AmericanGeophysicalUnion
Contents
Foreword xi
Introduction xiii
1 TheImportanceofNetworkingandtheHiddenPlatter
ofOpportunitiesTM 1
EightNetworkingMyths 4
UnderstandingtheHiddenCareerMarket 10
BreakingintotheHiddenJobMarket 11
ChapterTakeaways 14
Notes 14
2 UnderstandingandArticulatingYourValueProposition 15
YourUniqueProblem-SolvingAbilities:TheCornerstone
ofYourValue 16
Brand,Attitude,andReputation:TheNetworking
TrifectaofTriumph 24
YourBrandStatement/ElevatorPitch/30Second
(orLess)Commercial 33
ChapterTakeaways 42
Notes 43
3 DeterminingtheRightOpportunitiesforMe 45
TheConceptandPursuitofBliss 45
YourPersonalSWOTAnalysis 47
YourCareerOpportunities 50
ChapterTakeaways 54
Note 54
4 EstablishingYourBrandandReputationtoGain
AccesstotheHiddenPlatterofOpportunitiesTM 55
AlwaysAskQuestions 55
AskingQuestionsofnon-STEMProfessionals 57
StupidQuestions 62
SeekingMentors:TheImportanceofMentor–Protégé
PartnershipsinNetworking 63
BeingProfessional 71
ProfessionalEtiquetteinNetworking 74
vii
viii Contents
TheTaleoftheBallO’Butter 75
TakingAdvantageofEveryOpportunity 85
FailureistheUltimateOpportunity 88
Self-promotion – TheRightWay 90
ChapterTakeaways 105
Notes 105
5 DevelopingYourNetworkingStrategy 107
IdentifyingyourGoalsforNetworking 107
TheArtandScienceoftheThankYouNote 121
FollowingUp 124
OrganizingYourNetwork 127
ContinuingtoFollowUpandLookforOpportunitiesto
ExchangeValueOverTime 127
ChapterTakeaways 128
6 IdentifyingPeopleforYourNetworks 129
StartWithWhoYouKnow 129
InstitutionalNetworking 130
DiversityGroupsWithinOrganizationsandCompanies 132
ProfessionalSocieties 133
Conferences 139
Articles 149
RegionalIndustrialRepresentatives:RegionalEconomic
DevelopmentOrganizations,ChambersofCommerce,
Industry“Cluster”Associations 153
AlumniAssociations 161
RegionalPhilanthropicOrganizations 164
“YoungProfessionals”Societies 165
ReligiousandPoliticalAffiliations 166
RegionalSTEM-relatedActivities 166
SpontaneousNetworking – OnanAirplane,Train,Taxi 168
OtherPlacestoMeetPeople 170
CreateYourOwnNetworkingOpportunity! 171
ChapterTakeaways 171
Notes 172
7 NetworkingatanEvent 173
Pre-EventStrategies 173
AttendingtheEvent 176
ConversationStarters 178
ConversationsEnders 181
IfthePersonisaJerk 182
FollowingUp 184