Strategic Networking
open toolkit
Introduction
Mentor Interviews
Introduction Video References
- Nowell, L., Ovie, G., Kenny, N. et al. Postdoctoral scholars’ perspectives about professional learning and development: a concurrent mixed-methods study. Palgrave Commun 6, 95 (2020).
- Medha Raj, Nathanael J. Fast, and Oliver Fisher, Identity and Professional Networking, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 2017 43:6, 772-784.
- Mapping and Building your Developmental Network, ©Kram & Higgins 2013, Boston University Medical Campus – Faculty Development (Worksheet).
Reflection Prompts
- Who (categories/groups of people) do you have in your professional network? Why?
- How do you maintain networking relationships with your connections?
- How do you answer connection/informational interview requests? What about those requests made you want to provide support? How could your mentee structure requests accordingly?
- How could you support your mentee to access connections inside and outside of your network, depending on their career objectives?
Additional Resources
Read
- Francesca Gino, Maryam Kouchaki, and Tiziana Casciaro, Learn to Love Networking, Harvard Business Review, 2016.
- Beronda Montgomery, Evolving from a focus on mentee to cultivating a mentoring ecosystem, 2019.
- Robin Bernstein, How to talk to famous professors, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2017.
Watch
- How to find the person who can help you get ahead at work, Carla Harris, TED Talk.
- Networking effectively from the start of your doctorate to the end of your postdoc, Penn Career Services, YouTube video.
Listen
- Podcast Episodes on Networking, Faculty Factory Podcast.
- Ten steps to transition your career into business, Postdoc Transformation Podcast.
Act
- Mapping and Building your Developmental Network, ©Kram & Higgins 2013, Boston University Medical Campus – Faculty Development (Worksheet).