Real Talk on Networking: Building Professional Relationships that Matter—Even for Introverts

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Most of us have heard that networking is critical for finding job opportunities and navigating career transitions. Yet we often feel uncomfortable with it, perceiving networking as sleazy, pushy, or inauthentic. Join Duke alumna Mayya Shveygert, Ph.D.’12 (Molecular Genetics & Microbiology) for a workshop designed to help grad students and postdocs master the art of genuine networking. Networking has been instrumental for Dr Shveygert's career growth, first as she transitioned from being a postdoc at UCSF to regulatory affairs at Amgen and then growing her business as a medical writing consultant and meditation teacher for biopharma. 

During this information-packed workshop, we will address the following topics:

• Typical fears and misconceptions about networking and how to dispel them
• Why seasoned professionals actually want to help you break into the field
• How to find the people who can aid your career growth
• Why asking for AIR (advice, information, referrals) is your not-so-secret weapon
• Dos and don’ts for connecting with people you don't know (gasp!) on LinkedIn
• How to build up confidence and ease for networking events

This workshop is part of the Careers Beyond Academia Job Search Series and the Mentoring and Communication Series, sponsored by The Graduate School and the Office of Postdoctoral Services.