February Newsletter: What does “networking” mean to you?

If you type “how to network” into a search engine, you’ll find hundreds of articles (if not thousands—we haven’t looked through them all, admittedly) offering exclusive tips on saying the right things to the right people to make the right career move. Networking, these articles tell us, is a problem that has been solved, a code that has been cracked, a secret solution now available to all (or, in some cases, to those willing to reach behind a paywall).

But, when these articles promise “effective” and “foolproof” methods to make “meaningful” and “genuine” connections, it’s hard not to be a little suspicious.

When you’re in graduate school, networking can appear more nebulous and less clear-cut than the typical career trajectory assumed by these articles. When you’re still building your identity as a researcher, artist, or activist (or all three!), and when you might be considering a few different potential careers after graduation, you may have trouble figuring out who to talk to and where to find them. The more familiar academic networking routes may also not be relevant to all your questions. For example, an academic conference on Shakespeare won’t necessarily be a useful opportunity for the English PhD student wondering about working in policy writing. They might learn more by speaking to someone in another department who writes policy briefs as part of their research practice, or, if they’re lucky, to a fellow Shakespearean who found their way into a policy role–but how do you find such a person?

There isn’t a magic formula to networking in grad school, but at the Arts Amplifier we do think networking is a critical tool to help students chart potential career paths or to imagine expansive research opportunities. Practicing networking in grad school can also be a form of inquiry, a means of building solidarity with like-minded individuals, and a way to cultivate communities of practice, care, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Networking isn’t just about plotting career moves up some imaginary ladder, but about placing yourself in the world, it’s about finding ways to converse and connect that feel meaningful to you.

In your own academic work, chances are you’re already finessing your networking skills. You might be good at making unlikely connections in your research or asking the right questions to dig out new information. These are the kinds of skills that can make you an interesting conversation partner and a memorable connection. And that’s all you need to start building your network: a sense of curiosity, a willingness to approach another person, and the ability to hold a conversation.

While we haven’t read everything on the internet, here are some articles about networking we think are worth checking out: