On Seeking Employment: Networking
Watching my bank account dwindle is becoming highly stressful. I feel like all I've been doing is wasting time and doing nothing, but that is not the case. So, now I am documenting some of what I've been doing in an attempt to alleviate that somewhat.
Last week I went to a greater MA area Chemical Society meeting. I saw three people I had previously briefly met, but during the social hour I just felt out of place. A few people came up to talk to me - and pointed out the fact that I was standing alone. Networking is easily my weakest skill, personally or professionally. Even interviewing bothers me significantly less. There is something less frightening about a specific stranger than a room full of strangers. The meeting included dinner and I sat with friendly people who gave me some advice. One piece of advice was to set up a LinkedIn profile, which I have done. One guy asked me for my e-mail address which I had to write on a piece of paper. Not very classy.
Next up: the personal business card. I've always sort of known I should have some, but I could not bring myself to do so, because of the descriptor. The little bit that describes something of who you are/ what you are looking for to put along with your name. I haven't had a "real" job yet, so I have no job title to put with it. I ended up with Chemistry/ Environmental Science, because that's what I'm degreed in, but I still don't think I like it. Along with that my name, e-mail, cell number, and LinkedIn profile url were included.
I also ordered the book, "Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected" by Devora Zack. Hopefully, it ends up being useful.
Cards (and maybe book) should arrive before the next event I go to. This is a for the public Chem Cafe - a presentation followed by time for science professionals and the general public to sit down and talk together. If anyone is interested (and I'm excited, because the presentation looks fun) the information is as follows:
Science Café!
On January 27th, the Central Mass. Local Section will be hosting a Science Café on “The Science of Taste and Smell” at 7:00 pm at Tatnuck Bookseller in Westborough, MA. The speaker will be Dr. Guy Crosby of the Department of Chemistry and Food Science at Framingham State University. Dr. Crosby is also the science editor for Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen. (Those of you who view America’s Test Kitchen on PBS may recognize him from his occasional on-camera appearances.) This event is open to the public. Tatnuck Bookseller is located at 18 Lyman St. in the Westborough Shopping Center, just off the intersection of Route 9 and Lyman St.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Science Café concept, it is a public forum intended for the public and chemistry experts to engage in conversations in a casual setting.
Last week I went to a greater MA area Chemical Society meeting. I saw three people I had previously briefly met, but during the social hour I just felt out of place. A few people came up to talk to me - and pointed out the fact that I was standing alone. Networking is easily my weakest skill, personally or professionally. Even interviewing bothers me significantly less. There is something less frightening about a specific stranger than a room full of strangers. The meeting included dinner and I sat with friendly people who gave me some advice. One piece of advice was to set up a LinkedIn profile, which I have done. One guy asked me for my e-mail address which I had to write on a piece of paper. Not very classy.
Next up: the personal business card. I've always sort of known I should have some, but I could not bring myself to do so, because of the descriptor. The little bit that describes something of who you are/ what you are looking for to put along with your name. I haven't had a "real" job yet, so I have no job title to put with it. I ended up with Chemistry/ Environmental Science, because that's what I'm degreed in, but I still don't think I like it. Along with that my name, e-mail, cell number, and LinkedIn profile url were included.
I also ordered the book, "Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected" by Devora Zack. Hopefully, it ends up being useful.
Cards (and maybe book) should arrive before the next event I go to. This is a for the public Chem Cafe - a presentation followed by time for science professionals and the general public to sit down and talk together. If anyone is interested (and I'm excited, because the presentation looks fun) the information is as follows:
Science Café!
On January 27th, the Central Mass. Local Section will be hosting a Science Café on “The Science of Taste and Smell” at 7:00 pm at Tatnuck Bookseller in Westborough, MA. The speaker will be Dr. Guy Crosby of the Department of Chemistry and Food Science at Framingham State University. Dr. Crosby is also the science editor for Cook’s Illustrated and America’s Test Kitchen. (Those of you who view America’s Test Kitchen on PBS may recognize him from his occasional on-camera appearances.) This event is open to the public. Tatnuck Bookseller is located at 18 Lyman St. in the Westborough Shopping Center, just off the intersection of Route 9 and Lyman St.
For those of you unfamiliar with the Science Café concept, it is a public forum intended for the public and chemistry experts to engage in conversations in a casual setting.