Networking at conferences

[Anonymous]

So the key to getting a new job in middle age, as my agency is on the chopping block, is networking. But in my role I don't interface with any outside orgs, just gov all the way down and people NEVER LEAVE.

I want to expand my network, so was looking at some conferences in the local area, and they cost like $500-$1000 a pop. Are people paying this? There is no way my agency will pay for this unless I'm presenting a paper or something. I've looked into more local meetups, but when I attended those it was mostly other people like me looking for jobs and not much else in attendance -- certainly no one with hiring authority.

I guess I can email old college friends who live all over the country, but 20 years ago referrals seem... nonoptimal...

[Anonymous]

No one pays retail for those conferences. Submit a paper. There's a reason the acceptance rate is so high.

Depending on the conferene, an accepted presentation may mean free admission. If not, at most places, getting a paper accepted = your employer will pay for you entry fee, since you need to present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one pays retail for those conferences. Submit a paper. There's a reason the acceptance rate is so high.

Depending on the conferene, an accepted presentation may mean free admission. If not, at most places, getting a paper accepted = your employer will pay for you entry fee, since you need to present.

Okay? My day to day job does not involve work conducive to a paper, so I just whip up a white paper on “folding widgets in a stressful environment “? Still kind of a lot of effort to go to conf, are people really mostly doing that?

[Anonymous]

What kind of work do you do and what are you looking for?

[Anonymous]

I hear DOGE is hiring

[Anonymous]

The reason networking is useful is that it solves information problems. Someone is looking for someone with your skills and experiences and they think of you. But someone still has to be looking for your skills and experiences, and also, this is a long term project where you nurture relationships over time.

I don't think you should pay out for a conference without a more developed understanding of why this might help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reason networking is useful is that it solves information problems. Someone is looking for someone with your skills and experiences and they think of you. But someone still has to be looking for your skills and experiences, and also, this is a long term project where you nurture relationships over time.

I don't think you should pay out for a conference without a more developed understanding of why this might help you.

I do my job well and am personable, I always jump to help people and love what I do. But I don’t have the aptitude for glad handing and as a working parent running around burying any relationships have suffered. So I am looking for ways to network now and people often recommend work gathering, which seem to all cost a lot of money.

I’m a lab scientist, and my work is more monitoring and testing than research hence why papers are not in my wheelhouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason networking is useful is that it solves information problems. Someone is looking for someone with your skills and experiences and they think of you. But someone still has to be looking for your skills and experiences, and also, this is a long term project where you nurture relationships over time.

I don't think you should pay out for a conference without a more developed understanding of why this might help you.

I do my job well and am personable, I always jump to help people and love what I do. But I don’t have the aptitude for glad handing and as a working parent running around burying any relationships have suffered. So I am looking for ways to network now and people often recommend work gathering, which seem to all cost a lot of money.

I’m a lab scientist, and my work is more monitoring and testing than research hence why papers are not in my wheelhouse.

You are getting generic advice. No one can tell you what specific things to do for networking are going to be useful to you with your specific skills and field. Replace "networking" in your head with "finding people I can provide value to in contexts where we have a way to meet".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason networking is useful is that it solves information problems. Someone is looking for someone with your skills and experiences and they think of you. But someone still has to be looking for your skills and experiences, and also, this is a long term project where you nurture relationships over time.

I don't think you should pay out for a conference without a more developed understanding of why this might help you.

I do my job well and am personable, I always jump to help people and love what I do. But I don’t have the aptitude for glad handing and as a working parent running around burying any relationships have suffered. So I am looking for ways to network now and people often recommend work gathering, which seem to all cost a lot of money.

I’m a lab scientist, and my work is more monitoring and testing than research hence why papers are not in my wheelhouse.

You are getting generic advice. No one can tell you what specific things to do for networking are going to be useful to you with your specific skills and field. Replace "networking" in your head with "finding people I can provide value to in contexts where we have a way to meet".

I have no idea where to meet people, like I could get a job at pharma, do i hang at coffee shops near Pfizer? I’m not in a customer or vendor facing role, as an IC I enjoyed excelling at my niche but not must scramble to “sell myself” - im a scientist not a marketer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason networking is useful is that it solves information problems. Someone is looking for someone with your skills and experiences and they think of you. But someone still has to be looking for your skills and experiences, and also, this is a long term project where you nurture relationships over time.

I don't think you should pay out for a conference without a more developed understanding of why this might help you.

I do my job well and am personable, I always jump to help people and love what I do. But I don’t have the aptitude for glad handing and as a working parent running around burying any relationships have suffered. So I am looking for ways to network now and people often recommend work gathering, which seem to all cost a lot of money.

I’m a lab scientist, and my work is more monitoring and testing than research hence why papers are not in my wheelhouse.

You are getting generic advice. No one can tell you what specific things to do for networking are going to be useful to you with your specific skills and field. Replace "networking" in your head with "finding people I can provide value to in contexts where we have a way to meet".

I have no idea where to meet people, like I could get a job at pharma, do i hang at coffee shops near Pfizer? I’m not in a customer or vendor facing role, as an IC I enjoyed excelling at my niche but not must scramble to “sell myself” - im a scientist not a marketer

This isn't going to work for you. Just apply to jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason networking is useful is that it solves information problems. Someone is looking for someone with your skills and experiences and they think of you. But someone still has to be looking for your skills and experiences, and also, this is a long term project where you nurture relationships over time.

I don't think you should pay out for a conference without a more developed understanding of why this might help you.

I’m a lab scientist, and my work is more monitoring and testing than research hence why papers are not in my wheelhouse.

I was a functional scientist in my 20s but really turned on the gas in my 30s to full-time research. I wrote tons of proposals, presented papers at conferences everywhere I could, and networked like crazy at those. It worked really well but the workload was intense - I was putting in 60hr/week when in town and traveling almost a week a month. In my mid-40s I transitioned to managing science teams so now I just go to conferences and meet people and speak.

Here’s the thing as I see it: if you don’t want to grow into a bigger role, you don’t need the connections, you just need to apply for jobs. If you want the bigger role, you need to stretch, a lot, and then the networking will help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason networking is useful is that it solves information problems. Someone is looking for someone with your skills and experiences and they think of you. But someone still has to be looking for your skills and experiences, and also, this is a long term project where you nurture relationships over time.

I don't think you should pay out for a conference without a more developed understanding of why this might help you.

I’m a lab scientist, and my work is more monitoring and testing than research hence why papers are not in my wheelhouse.

I was a functional scientist in my 20s but really turned on the gas in my 30s to full-time research. I wrote tons of proposals, presented papers at conferences everywhere I could, and networked like crazy at those. It worked really well but the workload was intense - I was putting in 60hr/week when in town and traveling almost a week a month. In my mid-40s I transitioned to managing science teams so now I just go to conferences and meet people and speak.

Here’s the thing as I see it: if you don’t want to grow into a bigger role, you don’t need the connections, you just need to apply for jobs. If you want the bigger role, you need to stretch, a lot, and then the networking will help.

I just need a job but all jobs seem to come from networking. I love my job but it’s likely going to be shutdown with my agency.

Yeah it sounds like the 60 hours “squeeze in some research” is my only option. I hope it pays off.

[Anonymous]

You need mentees, my mentee is presenting so it’s an excuse to attend. Even if you need to pay for it. At some point the mentee becomes the mentor and you get a new job.

[Anonymous]

You're coming across as clueless and entitled. Building relationships and contributing to your field is not "glad handling" and lots of working parents invest the time in it. Lots of scientists do as well. You didn't. Fine.
But nothing is going to work unless you figure out what you have to offer -- what's your brand beyond "I'm good at my job!", how to develop that, and who might hire you because of it. Otherwise, you will invest time and money in the wrong direction.

[Anonymous]

Are there industry groups you can join? Like scientists in government, women in science, that sort of thing? Seeing people over and over at meetings or serving in a leadership role in one of these orgs is a way to build deeper connections and identify job opportunities.