Show Notes
Today’s topic is networking. I know – we’re all engineers and many of us are introverts. Maybe networking is not your favorite thing to do. But networking’s not so bad if you can do it your way.
Your network is a valuable resource. Tap into it for connections, for positive energy, to synergize ideas, and to spread your message. You can find people in your network to support you, to help you in difficult situations, to provide input and insight, and to be a sounding board.
I used to cringe when I heard the word “networking.” It was one of those things that I felt I had to do just because everyone says you have to do it.
I never thought of networking as enjoyable. As an introvert and a person who finds social situations stressful, I had little motivation for it.
But I have changed my mind. And if you’ve had a similar impression of networking, I hope I can change yours, too.
I’ve had a lot of negative beliefs about networking, like:
- I don’t see how networking can help me.
- It’s more important for me to do my work than to use up precious time talking to people.
- I’m not good at socializing, therefore I’m not good at networking.
- No one is really interested in me or my work.
- I can’t connect with the people who matter because I don’t have enough credibility or power.
Maybe you have had similar thoughts.
I made these up because I believed that my work would speak for itself. I believed that what little I had to share was not interesting to others. (How’s that for a scarcity mindset?) And I thought such socializing was unproductive.
But I’ve come to realize that networks are really important. They can help you progress farther and find more opportunities. They can help you become a better person, engineer and leader. Networks make life and career easier.
As much as you might think otherwise, you can’t do everything on your own. If that’s your mode, you’re just not going to get as far in your career. The benefits of having a good network are worth the investment of time and energy to create and maintain it.
I’ve turned those negative beliefs around and instead created some useful tips for networking.
6 Networking Tips for Women Engineers
- Remember that you are someone that others want to know. You have something to offer always. Develop a positive sense of self, your genuine personality, and your own networking style.
- People generally like to be approached and are always willing to talk about themselves. Approach with curiosity and a spirit of exploration.
- Balance how much you talk about yourself with how much you ask about and listen to others. Beware of gossip. Find common ground. Be open to various points of view.
- Don’t be too particular about who you network with. As the word implies, every connection leads to others. And every connection has the potential to help you some day.
- If you are an introvert, manage your networking time so that it doesn’t overwhelm you. Take time to “recover” from long networking encounters.
- Have a networking mindset. Be intentional. Expect to spend time building and maintaining your network.
Networking is a huge topic. There’s so much detail we could go into about how to network, who to network with, how to build relationships. And approaches depend on your own individual style. We’ll cover more about networking in future podcast episodes.
But if you’d like to go deeper into networking and other ways to enhance your engineering career in particular, take a look at my signature program.
You’ll see that many of the areas we’re touching on in the podcast are the very ones that can propel your career and help you manifest your vision. I’d love to work with you to make that happen.
Some Basics for Your Engineering Network
Your starting point for your network, of course, is the people you already know: people you met through work, professional associations, school, and family and friends you’ve known your whole life. You already have a network even if you’re not actively working with it.
Anyone who is a potential good connection is a candidate for your network. The only people who are not good candidates for your network are those who bring negative energy.
These are the people who never have a good word to say, are overly critical of you, or pull you away from your energetic center. (You can go back to Episode 10 for an introduction to your energetic center.)
As you grow and nurture your network, you’ll develop your own networking style. There is no one way to network. Styles vary widely depending on your personality, whether you’re an introvert or extravert, your goals and what works for you.
I can think of a couple examples of when my network served me well. Once was when I was preparing to interview for a new position. I reached out to a couple people in my network who were familiar with the process and they gave me some great tips on how to prepare.
Other times I’ve tapped into my network to learn about potential job opportunities, get recommendations for services, get the word out about my business, or get input for important decisions. These are just a few examples of how your network can benefit you.
Finally, here are 3 strategies for networking that have been helpful for me. I like how they capture an effective approach and simplify the idea of networking so that it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
Strategies for Leveraging Your Engineering Career Network
It took me a long time to learn that you don’t have to have a specific reason to talk to someone other than just getting to know them. In fact, that’s mostly what networking is. Hence, the first strategy:
- Spend the majority of your networking time getting to know people. Make connections and strengthen them. This is really the foundation of a strong network.
Skip the agenda. Spend more time giving than getting. Offer to help people. Ask more for input and insight and less for favors.
In order for your network to thrive, you not only need to connect with people but you need to stay connected. Hence, the second strategy:
- Find ways to stay connected. There are lots of approaches for doing this, and you should choose those that fit your networking style. Consistency and follow up are important. Here are some ideas:
- Arrange a meet-up, like having coffee or lunch.
- Attend an event together, like a meeting or conference.
- Inform your connections of your important milestones, like a promotion or new job. (And have them do the same for you.)
- Send a message or card for special occasions, like a birthday or holiday.
The more you put into your network, the more you can get out of it. Following strategies 1 and 2 sets the stage for the third strategy:
- Leverage your network strategically. Tap into your network when you need help. Consider carefully what you need from your network. Strategize who to talk to and how to clarify your request or get your message out or whatever it is you’re trying to accomplish.
Why do you need to be strategic? First of all because you don’t want to exploit your network by randomly tapping into it for trivial requests. But also because if you put a little thought into your approach, you’ll have a better result.
If you’ve done your due diligence with strategies 1 and 2, then you need not be afraid to tap into your network. People will be willing and eager to help when you need it.
I also think it’s good practice to strive for reciprocal relationships. Pay it back and pay it forward when someone has helped you and others will do the same.
The goal of having a network is to be connected, to build relationships, to be known and to know others. I encourage you to invest in your network and reap the benefits of those connections that will enhance your engineering career.
Recap: In this episode, I started out by introducing some of my previous negative beliefs about networking. Then we dispelled those negative beliefs with 6 networking tips for women engineers.
Next we discussed some of the basics of networking, and I shared some examples of how networking can benefit your engineering career. Then we ended today’s episode with 3 strategies for strengthening and leveraging your engineering network.
Next time on Her Engineering Career Podcast, we’re going to take what we’ve learned about networking and talk about how to work a conference. Be sure to tune in next time for Episode 13.
