Networking In Psychology

I loved what Ian shared in this CNA commentary. Some really pertinent and accurate observations. However, there was one recommended suggestion that I personally struggle with: 'connect with users directly and ask them out for coffee.' ☕ 👩🏫 As someone who teaches final-year grad students (& post-grad students and working adults) about professional networking — covering situational awareness, conversation skills, and follow-up etiquette — I’ve shifted my approach somewhat in the last 18 years. A decade ago, I encouraged 'coffee meetings' as a way to connect. 💡 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬. 𝐖𝐡𝐲? 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. My email inbox (both LinkedIn and work) fills weekly with kind coffee invites. If volume equaled consumption, I’d need five cups a day!!!! ❤️ 𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫: I deeply value helping others — it’s why I teach, mentor mothers, and run a social enterprise. But like many professionals juggling work, family, and commitments, scheduling 1:1 chats is often unrealistic. 📝 𝐀 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆’𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕. 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈. When reaching out, consider these alternatives: 1️⃣ 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: Explicitly say "I know you’re busy" or "Zero pressure to respond." 2️⃣ 𝐁𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜: Vague requests = higher mental load. State exactly what you want (e.g., "15 mins," "2-3 ideas on how to reach out to the sustainability industry"). 3️⃣ 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐭: "If this isn’t a good time, I completely understand!" 4️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞: Offer help, resources, or genuine appreciation 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 5️⃣ 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦: Suggest text/voice/email instead of live chat/ coffee meeting (𝘔𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦!!!) ⏳ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭: We’re asking for someone’s time and insight—𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫. How we frame it matters. 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖?

A common pain point students struggle with? Networking outreach They know they should be reaching out to professors, alumni, industry professionals, etc. But don't know what to say in their outreach. Here's a battle-tested approach the students I work with use when drafting their message: → Prep • Research the person on LinkedIn, Google, etc. • Identify common ground between you two • Think about why you are connecting → Structure [1] Intro + common ground [2] Purpose for outreach [3] Call to action (CTA) → CTA • Clear, reasonable ask • Make it a request, not a demand • If you ask for a meeting, provide availability* (*Unless you do so in a LI connection note where space is limited.) — Let's imagine you're looking for an informational interview with an alum who is in your target field. Common ground = Your university Purpose = To learn about their role / field CTA = Request for an informational interview Email is typically your best bet because the average person checks their inbox several times a day. However, LinkedIn can be another effective avenue. (Example templates for both email and LI connection note are in the carousel.) If you have a mutual connection, it can be beneficial to namedrop them in your email. A simple sentence like “Professor Jackson recommended that I reach out to you regarding [topic].” will do. — Does this approach guarantee a response? No. Is this the only way to go about this? No. But it's an approach that has helped many of my students initiate meaningful conversations and relationships. Your outreach is the first impression you give, so it's worth paying attention to. — PS. If connecting via LI, always check if the person has an "Open Profile" (simply click on "Message"). If they do, you can send them a DM without connecting, even if you don't have Premium.

Dear May 2025 Grads especially international students, Graduated now.. Excited? Nervous? Wondering how to land a job in the U.S. as visa deadlines loom? Yeah, we’ve all been there. Let’s talk real job search strategy. Here are some out-of-the-box networking + time management tips that worked for me and many others because the "just apply online" route? It’s not enough anymore. Networking tip #1: Become a connector, not a collector Don’t just collect LinkedIn connections. Engage. After every virtual or in-person event, send a thoughtful message: “Hey [Name], I loved your take on [topic]. Would love to stay in touch and learn from your journey.” Then follow their content, leave a meaningful comment weekly. Not just "Great post"—say why it resonated. Real Example? I did this with a speaker from a conference. A week later, they referred me to a role I didn’t know existed. Networking tip #2: DM like a human Cold messaging can work if it’s warm in tone. No one likes “Hi, can you refer me?”. Try this: “Hi [Name], I’m a May 2025 grad, exploring roles in [your field]. Your path at [Company] is inspiring! What advice would you give someone starting out?” You’re not asking for a job— You’re building trust. Jobs often follow. Networking tip #3: Start your own thing No industry events? Create one. Host a 20-minute Zoom chat with peers and invite 1 professional. Call it “Something Creative.” Record it, post snippets on LinkedIn. Now you’re no longer chasing people— They come to you. Time Tip #1: Pick 3 buckets daily Job search feels endless—so make it finite. Every day, pick only 3 things: 10 application 10 follow-up 1-2 learning or networking action Then rest. Your brain needs consistent progress, not burnout. Time Tip #2: Theme your week Mon: Research companies Tue: Tailor resume + apply Wed: Networking messages Thu: Interview prep Fri: Personal branding Sat: Review progress Sun: Rest or reflect Theme = clarity. Clarity = momentum. Bonus Tip: Show your work in public Share your job search journey online. Post about projects, learnings, even rejections. One classmate posted his weekly job goals + learnings. He got a DM from a hiring manager who was watching silently. You never know who’s watching. International students—this road is hard, but it’s not impossible. You just need to play it smart, support each other, and show up consistently. If you’re on this journey, You’ve got this. #May2025Grads #InternationalStudents #JobSearchTips #Networking #TimeManagement #F1VisaJobs #OPT #CPT #CareerGrowth #LevelUp

𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 “𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫” 𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭. You send one email. Maybe have a 20-minute Zoom call. And then… silence. Six months later, you apply for their PhD program and hope they remember you. They don’t. Because relationships aren’t built in one conversation. If you really want a professor to remember you and maybe even advocate for you. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. After that initial connection, don’t disappear. Stay in touch every month or so. Here’s how: • Ask thoughtful questions about their research or program • Congratulate them when they publish a paper or earn recognition • Let them know if you’ve recently read a paper or seen something relevant to their work they’ll appreciate the engagement • Share a new study or insight that connects to their research direction • Connect on LinkedIn, ResearchGate, or their lab’s social media • When you apply, let them know personally and if possible, request to interview with them The goal isn’t to “network.” It’s to build credibility through consistency. When a professor sees your genuine curiosity, initiative, and engagement over time, you stop being “another applicant.” You become someone they want in their program. And this could be your "Gateway" to your dream school :) #PhD #research #academia #studyabroad

New grads — if “networking” makes you feel uneasy or a little cringe, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be awkward, transactional, or fake. One of the most effective — and authentic — ways to build professional relationships? Informational interviews. Think of them as curiosity-driven conversations, not sales pitches. Here’s how to get started: 📌 Use LinkedIn to find people in roles or industries that interest you 📌 Ask for 20–30 minutes to learn about their career path 📌 Lead with curiosity, prep thoughtful questions, and show appreciation 📩 Nervous about reaching out? I’ve created templates to make it easier (graphics below 👇) 💬 Not sure what to ask? I’ll drop go-to questions in the comments. Truthfully, this approach helped me land my job at LinkedIn. Through low-pressure conversations, I learned what really mattered in the role, built real relationships, and followed up when the time was right. Next week: I’ll wrap up this mini career series with tips to crush your next interview. #InformationalInterviews #NewGrad #Networking #JobSearchWithClaire ___ 🔔 Follow me, Claire Silcox, to catch the final post ♻️ Tag a new grad who's navigating the job search 💼 Explore career coaching at clairemsilcox.com

Want to Build a Strong Network Before Graduation? For many students, the word “networking” can sound intimidating, something reserved for corporate conferences and formal emails. Networking isn’t reserved for people with years of experience. In fact, as a student, you’re in the perfect stage to start building meaningful connections. Whether it’s asking a senior for internship advice or DM’ing a founder after a college seminar, you’re building connections. You just need to do it intentionally. Some practical & professional networking tips that can make real difference: 🔹1. Make LinkedIn Your Best Friend LinkedIn isn’t just a place to upload your resume and forget about it. It’s a powerful platform for building your personal brand, expanding your network and learning directly from professionals in your field of interest. - Don’t just connect, send a short-personalized note. - Like, comment and share posts before you message someone. Build familiarity before asking for favors. 🔹2. Professors, Alumni and Seniors = Goldmine Your college network is your warmest lead. Most people ignore it. - Attend alumni meet. - DM seniors on LinkedIn who work where you want to intern. - Ask professors to connect you with industry contacts many are willing, but you have to ask. 🔹3. Give Before You Ask No, you don’t need a 5-year resume to offer value. Share someone’s post, write a thank-you note, or tag a speaker after a session you attended. These small gestures go a long way in building genuine connections. Remember: in networking, value isn’t always about knowledge, it’s about kindness, curiosity and contribution. 🔹4. Follow Up Professionally - If someone gives you their time or guidance, always follow up. - Say thank you. Let them know if their advice helped. - If you’re waiting on a response for an opportunity, a polite follow-up after a week shows initiative, not desperation. 🔹5. Be Patient and Consistent Building a professional network takes time, it’s not about instant results. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get replies immediately or if some connections don’t lead anywhere right away. Stay consistent in engaging, learning and reaching out. Over time, these efforts compound into meaningful relationships and opportunities. Networking isn’t about selling yourself. It’s about showing up with curiosity and respect. So don’t wait until you graduate. Start today, with curiosity, consistency and confidence. #StudentNetworking #LinkedInTips #CareerGrowth #CollegeToCorporate #GenZProfessional #InternshipAdvice

How do you find a job in psychology in the UAE, when so much depends on “wasta”? Generally speaking, finding a job after you graduate is usually difficult. However, finding a job after you graduate in the UAE sometimes feels especially difficult as a psychology graduate. You see people working in relevant psychology roles. Yet, you never see any job listings for those same roles! I’m a psychology professor, so I often hear psychology graduates say: “you need to know someone to get a job”. Then, they use a word I’ve become very familiar with: “wasta”. Who you know can determine what job you’ll get and how quickly. From the conversations I’ve had with psychology graduates, the concept of “wasta” is often viewed as a barrier to the graduate job market. However, I believe “wasta” can be navigated. If you breakdown “wasta”, it’s all about people having a degree of familiarity with someone or relying on trusted third-party advice, before making decisions. If we think of “wasta” as the network of relevant people we know in our field of psychology, be it academics, therapists, NGOs, volunteers, students etc, we should all be working on building this network, regardless of our profession. To an extent, I believe all psychology students CAN and SHOULD begin creating such a network from now. You can begin developing that familiarity and trust with relevant people in the local psychology community NOW, before you graduate. Then, once you graduate you can have some familiarity with relevant stakeholders in the psychology community, that will help build trust in your skills and ultimately make you a better candidate. This is a long-term strategy, but it CAN work. The next questions is: how do you show your value, build trust and familiarity with the psychology community in the UAE? Here are some ways:  📌 Attend relevant local psychology conferences and ENGAGE; 📌 Present your work at local psychology conferences (they often have student sections!); 📌 Volunteer! This is one of the best ways to gain experience and meet relevant people in psychology; 📌 Build meaningful connections: use LinkedIn to connect with relevant people to engage with them professionally, not to ask for work on day one; 📌Join professional psychology organisations in the region and actually engage (e.g. MEPA UAE Country Chapter, The Society of Business Psychology Middle East of business psychology, students can become members!) Developing this network is important, but it takes time. However, in the long-term, it pays dividends. Let me know what you think, can we navigate “wasta”? #psychology

Don’t stress a PhD student at a conference please 😅… please read a few strategic things I did as a doctoral student at conferences. You will see me holding a plate, balancing jollof rice, spring rolls, a tote bag, conference programme, phone, name badge, and existential uncertainty, while trying to look intellectually composed beside a professor whose paper I cited seventeen times. It is funny because it is true. Many doctoral students treat conference lunch as a survival break. Eat quickly. Avoid awkward eye contact. Sit with people they already know. Scroll through emails. Return to the next session. But that one hour may be more valuable than the formal presentation you travelled to deliver. The real conference happens beside the coffee queue, at the lunch table, after someone asks, “So what is your PhD about?”, and in the two-minute conversation that later becomes a recommendation, co-authorship, PhD examiner suggestion, visiting opportunity, postdoc lead, dataset access, or invitation to submit to a special issue. The mistake many PhD students make is thinking networking means disturbing senior academics. No!!. Good networking is intellectual positioning. You are helping people understand what problem you study, its significance, and where your work belongs. Here is the practical strategy. Before any conference, prepare three things. First, a 20-second thesis pitch that a non-specialist can understand. Not “I am exploring the intersection of…” Please, nobody has strength during lunch 😏... Say the problem, the context, the method, and specific implications... Secondly, identify 5 people before you arrive (one scholar you admire, one possible collaborator, one early-career researcher, one journal editor or special issue organiser, and one person outside your exact topic). Thirdly, prepare one intelligent question for each. Not “can you help me?” Try, “Your work on X helped me think differently about Y. I am testing this in Z context. Do you think the framing is too narrow?” That kind of question opens serious conversation without sounding desperate. So abeg, eat the conference food 😅. Please, eat very well. Conferences are expensive, and lunch may be the only fully funded joy of the day. But do not only collect sandwiches. Collect insight. Collect names. Collect feedback. Collect language for your thesis. Collect courage (this one is very important). The PhD student who uses lunch only to recover may leave full. The PhD student who uses lunch strategically may leave with a stronger chapter, a new mentor, a future collaborator, and one unexpected door they did not know existed.

Some of the best opportunities in my career started with a single message. And for law and graduate students - reaching out is one of the most strategic moves you can make. Here is how to make your outreach stand out and feel (almost) effortless: 1. Preparation. Know who you are contacting. Read their latest article, scroll their LinkedIn, find one overlap in your interests. It signals professionalism before you ever meet. 2. Engagement. If they are active on LinkedIn, interact with their posts. Familiar names get welcomed conversations. I cannot emphasize this enough. 3. Context. Did someone recommend you connect? Did a post spark something for you? Tell us. Intentionality is memorable. 4. Ease. Offer a 15–30 minute window and to send a calendar invitation. Smooth scheduling is a gift. 5. Leadership. When the meeting begins, confidently guide it: “Thank you for taking the time today. I am happy to start with a brief intro and would love if you are open to doing the same.” Leading the conversation shows maturity and it is noticed. 6. Gratitude. Follow up with a thoughtful thank-you and a specific insight you gained. 7. Continued connection. Share updates, wins, new interests - staying in touch matters more than you realize. These updates literally make my day! 8. Value. Even early in your career, you bring value to the relationship. Networking works when both sides contribute. Reaching out is not a transaction. It is planting a seed for connection, mentorship, and opportunity and those seeds grow quickly when you approach them with preparation, confidence, and authenticity. 🌱 📸 my colleagues and I celebrating the end of the billable year

I used to think networking was all about sending generic LinkedIn connection requests. But I was wrong ⬇️ Genuine relationship building completely changed my perspective. 🤯 Here's what I've learned as a college student trying to break into my dream industry: → 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆: It's not about how many people you know, but how well you know them. Focus on building meaningful connections with a few key individuals rather than trying to network with everyone. → 𝗕𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂: Don't try to be someone you're not. People can sense inauthenticity from a mile away. Share your genuine interests and passions––that's how you'll connect with like minded people. → 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: Always think about how you can provide value to others. Maybe it's sharing an interesting article, offering your skills, or making an introduction. When you give first, people are more likely to want to help you in return. → 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵: Networking doesn't end after the first meeting. Set reminders to check in with your connections regularly. Share updates on your progress and congratulate them on their achievements. → 𝗨𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆: LinkedIn isn't just for connection requests. Engage with people's posts, share your own insights, and join relevant groups. It's an easy way to stay on people's radar. → 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱: Don't be afraid to reach out to professionals in your desired field for a quick chat. Most people are happy to share their experiences and advice with students. ⭐ 𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬'𝗦 𝗧𝗜𝗣: Create a networking tracker spreadsheet to keep notes on your connections, when you last spoke, and potential follow up topics. This has been a game changer for me in managing my professional relationships! Remember, networking is about building genuine relationships, not just adding names to your contact list. Don't get me wrong...it definitely takes time and effort, but the connections you make can open doors you never even knew existed! #networking #studentlife #careeradvice #professionaldevelopment #linkedintips #jobhunting