Building a network and using it effectively is a key requirement for all professionals, whether it is in an academic research setting, industry engagement or a conference. This workshop will focus on how to establish a network and build it to support your career and aims.

We will cover networking strategies, engagement methods and how to “pitch” yourself and/ or your ideas. Participants will be introduced to various techniques that they can use in a variety of situations with a range of different audiences. How can we turn conversations to our advantage? How do we approach and engage with people? When and how should we follow up? Participants will also be invited to complete the unique Electv Network Evaluation activity which encourages them to think about the status of their network and how they want to develop it further.

Each individual will be encouraged create a personal networking strategy that they can use after the workshop and build on in future. The workshop will comprise a mixture of group work, class discussion and individual exercises. This workshop is ideal for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who are looking to engage with people beyond the bench or the office, to set up collaborations, engage with industry and enhance their career prospects.

After this workshop participants will have:

• a networking strategy that they can implement directly after the workshop;
• been introduced to a range of networking techniques and evaluated the status of their network;
• an understanding of how they can use online networking to support their offline efforts.

Facilitator: Jo Young, Electv