Talking to strangers to get advice can sound intimidating, but more often than not, professionals are eager to share their experiences and help a fellow scientist. After all, they were in your shoes once!
Ground rules for contacting professionals
Be specific about your request
- "I'd like to ask about your transition"
- "I read your LinkedIn and am curious about your experience at a start-up and big pharma"
- Avoid the less-specific "can we talk"
State your connection
- Through UCSF
- Get introduction by a colleague
- Learn how to get a response if you're writing to someone without a direct connection
Be flexible about a time to talk on the phone or meet
- Give windows of time or open days
- Be clear about how much time you are asking them for and how soon
Your request should be brief - the reader should be able to read and respond to it in 2 minutes.
Preparing for an informational interview
- Learn about what informational interviews are, why to do them, and how.
- Cold Emails and Hot Coffee part 2 and part 3 from ScienceCareers outline what you need for preparing and conducting successful informational interviews.
- Use your hard-won research skills to conduct effective informational interviews, from ScienceCareers.org.
- Learn how to talk to people about their career paths, from ScienceCareers.org.
Sample emails, questions, and thank you notes
- Get sample language and guides for developing your questions.
- Cold Emails and Hot Coffee, a 4 part series from ScienceCareers, outlines what you need for preparing and conducting successful informational interviews.
- Check out the "Talk to People" section of ScienceCareer's myIDP site for sample requests, thank yous, and interview questions tailored to your values.
Resources for making connections
- Use LinkedIn to build your network by connecting with professionals in career paths or organizations of interest. Often you can do this through an already shared contact.
- Learn how to build your LinkedIn profile and use it to search effectively
- Tips for contacting someone via LinkedIn
- Network with UCSF alumni who are willing to help using UCSF Connect. Learn how to join!
- Look for the alumni who sit on our monthly Alumni Career Paths panels!
- Join a professional society and attend their events to make connections with professionals with common interests and goals. For ideas on professional societies to join, check out our Every Month Series pages. Find the career type you're interested in and look under "Find your community."
- Volunteer at conferences
Networking
Video series
Sara Ayazi, Program Manager at the Office of Career and Professional Development, developed a four-part video series to get you ready for successful networking. Use the links below if you want to access each video separately:
- The Purpose of Networking and Creating Your Goals
- Identify Where to Network and How to Initiate a Networking Request
- Identify the Types of Questions to Ask During a Networking Interaction
- Summarize How to Follow Up After a Networking Interaction
Career Tips
Sara Ayazi's Career Tips cover questions including:
- How to gracefully exit a networking conversation
- How to network at virtual conferences
- How do I write a networking request that will get noticed?
Slides from past workshops:
