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InnoBlog: Networking, it’s all about the idea
It’s December, Masters students (including me) are glued to our laptops looking for thesis and internship opportunities. Off all opportunities out there, very few cater to our interests and circumstances. But there is an important step before the applications begin, and that’s networking. As mentioned on the Effective Networking website, “Networking is building relationships before [you] need them”.
Having heard and spoken to several agents from the InnoEnergy Career Centre, I gathered several strategies to network. The most important lesson I have learnt by reading and experiencing, is to reveal enough information to keep the listener hooked, but holding back the details to make them come back for more. In this Blog, I have written about a few ideas that have worked for me in my experience.
Know your audience
Before going to an event, find out all the companies that will be present there. Make a list of high and medium priority companies that you would potentially like to work with, this will help you manage time and effort. Research all the work they have done and figure out exactly what impresses you, that attracts you to work with them during your internship or thesis.
This is where the difficult part comes in, figuring out what you could do along the same ideas or proposed work. You might have done something similar, or it might be a brand new idea that captivates you. So your next step should be to research the topic, to get a notion of how you can work on said project. Most often, what you find will not be along the same lines as what the company is doing, and that’s the beauty of research. You know exactly where to put in your efforts while networking. If you are made aware of the person attending the event, it would be a good idea to research their work and background as well. People connect with people they find common grounds with.
Do the groundwork
Now that you know exactly which company you would like to meet, cater your CV to highlight the strengths required for the project you are targeting. The CV must reflect who you are, what you have done and what you want to do. The shorter you make it, the quicker you reach the point you are trying to make.
During the event
People tend to remember situations, stories and ideas better than they remember people. So you must create a story for yourself when you meet your ideal company. The best way to create this story is by exploring an idea, and letting others speak their opinion about the idea. After introducing yourself, ask them “I saw you are working on this…could you tell me more about it?”. You will be surprised to see how easy the conversation is going. Now, you have done your research and you know exactly how or where you will fit in. Now it’s your time to create the story. Let them know what you have worked on previously, and what idea you would like to work on in the future. People remember ideas, and if you can successfully communicate your idea, you have made an impression. Pass them your CV and let them know you would like to explore the idea further, if they have the time.
Conclusion
This has worked well for me so far, as I resonate on the same ideals of the company / organization or the person I am speaking to. I have personally not felt the need to mention I am looking for thesis or internship, because if the person is interested in your idea, they will make a way to get you onboard the project.
Networking is often seen as “If I talk to as many companies as possible, I will be sure to hit well with a few”. Quantity could work at times, but quality is better than quantity in this case. Target a few and effectively communicate your idea to few. It is a lot of work, but done effectively, it will get you to your goal.
Good luck with all your thesis and internship searches!
