Networking at conferences

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP people are giving you very different advice re: being in touch with people in a natural, organic way, and then going to a conference / coffee / bar and ?? doing what exactly? A dumpy middle aged woman sitting alone (I am one) will not have much success "networking".

People on here suggesting that approach obviously don't know what that feels like.

There are lots of normal-looking middle-aged people successfully networking at conferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP people are giving you very different advice re: being in touch with people in a natural, organic way, and then going to a conference / coffee / bar and ?? doing what exactly? A dumpy middle aged woman sitting alone (I am one) will not have much success "networking".

People on here suggesting that approach obviously don't know what that feels like.

There are lots of normal-looking middle-aged people successfully networking at conferences.

Those will be someone who are managers who can help connect people with jobs and such. What currency does OP have to offer unattractive, old, can’t hire anyone, and apparently doesn’t control any money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP people are giving you very different advice re: being in touch with people in a natural, organic way, and then going to a conference / coffee / bar and ?? doing what exactly? A dumpy middle aged woman sitting alone (I am one) will not have much success "networking".

People on here suggesting that approach obviously don't know what that feels like.

There are lots of normal-looking middle-aged people successfully networking at conferences.

Those will be someone who are managers who can help connect people with jobs and such. What currency does OP have to offer unattractive, old, can’t hire anyone, and apparently doesn’t control any money.

This is about you and your confidence issues, not about how other people actually perceive you in the world! Start out by being friendly and curious. Learn about what people are interested in. Meet people. Connect people. Figure out how to contribute to your field. You don't have to be hot and young or able to hire people to be a contributing member of a professional space.

[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’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.

Job instability is very stressful but I think right now you're psyching yourself out. Just apply for a couple of jobs without worrying about networking right now.

As for how you meet people - there are all kinds of ways. Sometimes you can just reach out to people at orgs you're interested in and say you'd like to hear more about what they are working on. Conferences are good because a lot of people are there - but if you feel too shy or nervous to actually talk to anyone it won't do any good.

And yeah, reach out to people you knew 20 years ago. Tell them you're looking for new opportunities and would love to buy them lunch or get on a call or whatever. Cast a wide net. You don't know where the next job will come from.

I'm sorry you're dealing with job insecurity. I sure know what that feels like (awful).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s a reason why you’re stuck in fed, and I made 500k last year, at a job I networked into. If you’re just going to negative Nancy everything, we can’t help you.

F U

[Anonymous]

I'm with you, OP. Seems pretty hopeless in 2025 America for mid-career people to find new jobs. Can't apply for jobs online. Have to utilize your network. But your previous industry is falling apart. You are approaching two years of no full time work. (breaking out the calendar) 17 interviews in 21 months. No job offers.

I'm an active member in a professional group where I volunteer in multiple positions. I also volunteer my time at a local athletic facility. Just went to a conference for an industry I want to pivot into, but the job fair is looking like a bust.

There is no worse feeling in America that hitting 40, losing your job and not being able to find another one.

[Anonymous]

Practice and learn to make small talk and schmooze. Go to some "professionals" events even if not directly related to your science. That way of you do go to a conference you are not doing this for the first time.
Here are examples. If you are not near DC find some where you are.
https://tspppa.gwu.edu/dc-events-professional-networking-groups
https://www.eventbrite.com/d/dc--washington/professional-events/

[Anonymous]

Hey OP - what about reaching out to the conference organizers and seeing if they need volunteers? For instance, maybe you could help man a check-in/registration table or set up/break down booths? They may be delighted to swap some help for a conference badge. Also - many conferences have government rates that are much lower than the advertised price. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Honestly, without knowing much about what you do or science I’m wondering if you just want to start applying for jobs. People do get jobs from applications without connections. If you see an interesting position, see who you might know at the agency or company. Are all of your colleagues at risk? If not, may want to confide in the ones that aren’t and see who they know.

Talk to your neighbors and friends - they may be lawyers but they have friends and family who might have ideas.

Also, are you sure you are in the chopping block? Do you want to wait and see if you do get chopped and whether it comes with severance or early retirement? I say this as a fellow Fed who is worried about what’s coming although I am not in what would seem to be a high risk area unless they just start indiscriminately firing all federal employees.

Are you at fda or nih? Are there jobs elsewhere in your agency or another agency that would be less in the cross hairs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, without knowing much about what you do or science I’m wondering if you just want to start applying for jobs. People do get jobs from applications without connections. If you see an interesting position, see who you might know at the agency or company. Are all of your colleagues at risk? If not, may want to confide in the ones that aren’t and see who they know.

Talk to your neighbors and friends - they may be lawyers but they have friends and family who might have ideas.

Also, are you sure you are in the chopping block? Do you want to wait and see if you do get chopped and whether it comes with severance or early retirement? I say this as a fellow Fed who is worried about what’s coming although I am not in what would seem to be a high risk area unless they just start indiscriminately firing all federal employees.

Are you at fda or nih? Are there jobs elsewhere in your agency or another agency that would be less in the cross hairs?

My agency is slated to be closed based on Project 2025.

[Anonymous]

Bring business cards!

[Anonymous]

I was a dumpy middle aged woman and I did just fine networking. I paid attention to who was speaking at panels, read their papers, sought them out at the mixer type times and complimented them on their interesting presentations, asked a cogent question, mentioned a link to my work, chatted.
I think you don't look broadly enough at what a network is. It's not just A to B, it's A to people B knows and who they know. You can't hire but I bet you know people in your field who know people who do.
This at least has an image of a network, lol
https://www.leadfuze.com/how-to-create-a-lead-generation-network/

It's not just one interaction and it's not real time quid pro quo.

Honestly I was the one who suggested finding free or low cost professional events even peripheral to your science because imo you need confidence building practice initiating conversations with strangers. Those events would be low risk.

[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

There are plenty of personable scientists in the world who don't have social anxiety. I really think this is what is actually happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

There are plenty of personable scientists in the world who don't have social anxiety. I really think this is what is actually happening.

I am not anxious about meeting people. I just don’t know how to set up the meet-cute. A conference is a natural setting, or an industry meeting, but those all cost money (even industry meeting is hundreds in dues and some cash for attending). I just wanted to know if everyone is forking over this cash when Jon searching, since money is tight.

I really don’t believe people are accounting strangers in a coffee shop because they have a badge from a conference that you wish you could attend but can’t afford.

My ultimate problem was I optimized for my work to be a niche IC because I was a working parent with big work demands and a spouse whose job is very demanding. I just don’t interact with many people other than my office and no one leaves except to retire. So now I’m scrambling to find a venue where I can network, and coming up short on options that don’t blow our budget.

I wil circle back around to the paper and hope I get it out there before I’m laid off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a dumpy middle aged woman and I did just fine networking. I paid attention to who was speaking at panels, read their papers, sought them out at the mixer type times and complimented them on their interesting presentations, asked a cogent question, mentioned a link to my work, chatted.
I think you don't look broadly enough at what a network is. It's not just A to B, it's A to people B knows and who they know. You can't hire but I bet you know people in your field who know people who do.
This at least has an image of a network, lol
https://www.leadfuze.com/how-to-create-a-lead-generation-network/

It's not just one interaction and it's not real time quid pro quo.

Honestly I was the one who suggested finding free or low cost professional events even peripheral to your science because imo you need confidence building practice initiating conversations with strangers. Those events would be low risk.

No, we can’t recommend people for jobs — we are Feds. We can’t recommend people for contracts and I am not on contract boards.

I agree if I went to conferences I would be fully engaged and am naturally curious. I just don’t have the $400 handy for such a long shot, and you are right it takes nurturing of a relationship not just the conference.

I am curious how you go to a peripheral conference and meet people when you aren’t in industry. Do you just say your a hobby geologist or whatever?