Informational Interviews and Building Your Professional Network

• 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.

• Learn about what informational interviews are, why to do them, and how.
• Cold Emails and Hot Coffee parts 2 and 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.

• Get sample language and guides for developing your questions.
• Cold Emails and Hot Coffee parts 2 and 3 from ScienceCareers outline 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.

• 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!
• 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."

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:

1. The Purpose of Networking and Creating Your Goals
2. Identify Where to Network and How to Initiate a Networking Request
3. Identify the Types of Questions to Ask During a Networking Interaction
4. Summarize How to Follow Up After a Networking Interaction

General tips:

• This Career Tip of the Month covers how to gracefully exit a networking conversation
• Have a business card ready to trade with your new connection! Read about how to make business cards, on BeyondAcademia

At conferences:

• Make the most of your conference, a BioCareers article
• Consider volunteering at a conference to make connections. Read this successful story about networking at a conference, a ScienceCareers article
• For specific goals and fields:
  • These slides go over how to network as a means to explore different careers.
  • These slides go over how to network to get a job in industry.
  • These slides go over how to network to get a job in a nonprofit or think tank.
• Introverts can be successful networkers too!
  • Did you know that introverts are natural networkers? Introverts possess characteristics such as good listening skills, focusing on others, asking well-formed questions, and following up.
  • Watch Networking for Introverts on Youtube, an interview with award winning author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, Susan Cain. (Note: Tips start at about 8min 30 sec)
  • Read more about effectively networking as an introvert in Networking for People Who Hate Networking, by Devora Zack
• For online conferences:
  • Read Sara Ayazi's Career Tip: How do I network at a virtual conference?