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	Title:	How to Make the Most of Networking Events
	Author:	Opus Scientific
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	Many people are discouraged by the adage “It’s who you know” because they think “I don’t know anyone!” However, this is unlikely to be the case. Once you start to talk to people (everyone, not just scientists) about your interests you’ll find that there are a host of programs and networking events throughout the country. One has only to make the time for them.   One thing that I find that people often forget is that quality is more important than quantity. What good is a database of 100 contacts with whom you never interact? Make a meaningful network your goal and you will find it to be much more powerful. Start your database of contacts today and begin to manage them appropriately with regular meaningful interaction.   In addition to making time for networking, be sure you understand how to behave at a networker or your efforts will be in vain.   Proper Conduct at a Networking Event Sometimes it is difficult to know what the proper behavior is. Especially when adapting to a new country or new industry. During the job search process, fortunately and unfortunately, the little things mean a lot. Be careful about your behavior at a networking event or career fair as those situations can be used to make judgments about you as a potential candidate.   The Business Card Exchange There are websites and books that discuss the proper exchange of business cards including how and when to ask for someone’s business card. Walking up to someone without saying hello and asking, “Can I have your card?” is not the way to go. Imagine if someone did that to you on the street. Just because it is a networking event doesn’t mean you can be rude or overly casual. Making the request without introduction- a handshake or proper eye contact- conveys to the person with whom you are interacting that they are not a person--simply a means to an end. When at a networking event smile, make eye contact, offer a firm handshake and be sure to find some way to strike up a meaningful conversation. Try to find common ground. Then, hopefully, the other person will offer their business card. If they don’t, indicate that you would like continued interaction with them and politely ask for his or her business card. It is also appropriate to politely ask for the business card right after the introduction before any conversation. Be sure to examine the business card and make a comment on the information, such as clarifying pronunciation or office location, before putting it away. The proper behavior varies with the individuals’ job titles or rank and with the country, so be sure to spend some time reviewing proper etiquette.   Breaking Into the Circle One of the most difficult situations to be in is to arrive at a networking event to meet new people only to find everyone seems to know each other already. During networking events, groups of two to five people will form and develop a line of conversation. There are ways to join the group without seeming like an uninvited guest. Be sure to understand the line of the conversation before interjecting your own comments. Take your time to interject. In addition, make sure you are facing all the members of the group. If it is absolutely positively necessary to interrupt someone be sure to begin with an apology and ask whether it’s okay if you ask a question to the person who was speaking, not to the person you wish to speak with.                                                                 Breath Mints I think those two words say it all. Keep in mind no matter how fresh and clean you arrive at a network event, there are likely to be cheese and dips that can change all that in a moment.   Negative Attitudes Negativity has no place at a networker. No matter how difficult the job search has been for you, if it does come up in conversation at a network event with a potential contact, always discuss the experience in a positive light. Discuss what you have learned from the lack of positive response to your applications. Discuss how that has made you even more organized and committed to your search for the “right” position. Present situations and ask for advice but always do so with a smile and positive demeanor. You want the person with whom you are speaking to want to help you. Reserve the tears and anguish for your loved ones.   Virtual Networking There are estimates that currently more than 80% of individuals in industrialized nations ages 18 – 60 regularly use the internet for communicating with other people. But when communicating over the internet, we must keep in mind that the information is readily accessible to everyone. Most candidates don’t realize employers, recruiters and academic programs often review the online material of an interviewing candidate. This can be advantageous for candidates with a professional web presence and perilous for candidates who have not considered that their online presence may affect their candidacy. The following is a list of resources that can help you build your brand online:   CollectiveX - www.collectivex.com DOOSTANG - www.doostang.com Facebook - www.facebook.com Glocap - www.glocap.com LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com MySpace - www.myspace.com Nature Network - www.network.nature.com NavAgility - www.navagility.com Pulse Plaxo - www.plaxo.com   Resources for Networking   A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way Into the Hidden Job Market, Katharine Hansen New York Biotechnology Association - www.nyba.org Lab To Wall Street - www.labtowallstreet.com Yale Biotechnology Student Interest Group - www.yale.edu/biotech Biotech Tuesday in Boston - www.biotechtuesday.com BioConnect - www.curenet.org Women Entrepreneurs in Science & Technology - http://WEST.org Student Vision - www.studentvision.org Hopkins Biotech Network - www.hopkinsbiotechnetwork.org Caltech Biotechnology Club - www.its.caltech.edu/~biotech London Biotechnology Network - www.londonbiotechnology.co.uk AusBiotech - www.ausbiotech.org
	Opus Scientific, based in Long Island and New York City, is a specialized professional staffing firm supporting biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, cosmetic, chemical, food and other scientific intensive industries that require skilled talent. The core focus areas include research & development, drug discovery, pre-clinical development, clinical research, manufacturing, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, quality control and sales & marketing.
	Copyright, 2008, Opus Scientific Published with permission