Essential networking strategies for early career scholars

Building a strong network opens new opportunities, challenges your thinking, and can even be the key to advancing your career. The connections you make now might become future colleagues, collaborators, bosses, or friends.

Here are the top five ways to become an academic networking superstar:

1. Join an academic association

Joining an academic association is one of the easiest ways to meet researchers in your field. It’s essential to research the association’s social calendar and its members to ensure you’re investing your time wisely. Consider these questions when comparing associations.

• Does the association mostly include members who share a similar research focus?
• What is the diversity of the members? (e.g., a mix of junior and senior academics, international representation)
• Are there costs involved, and might your university cover these costs?
• Are there affordable opportunities to meet in person? (e.g., talks, training sessions, conferences, networking events)
• If not, is there another way to meaningfully engage with the members? (e.g., online forums, online talks)
• Do you know someone who could facilitate initial introductions?
• How does the association support early career scholars in networking and collaboration?

Once you’ve joined, become an active member. To build a valuable network, take the initiative to introduce yourself, start conversations, and suggest meetups.

2. Attend a conference

Conferences are excellent for bringing people together and connecting scholars. Presenting your research can help you share your work and receive valuable feedback. If it’s a conference outside your university, you also have the chance to broaden your research’s reach.

However, even if you’re not presenting, attending a conference can still significantly expand your network. Take advantage of social functions like coffee breaks, lunches, and sessions. Engage with others by asking questions after panel discussions, talking to speakers about their presentations, or simply introducing yourself to those around you.

After the conference, follow up with those you met by sending a connection request with a short note about why it was nice to meet them.

3. Invite someone for coffee

If you find someone in your town working in a position or at a university you admire, or whose research interests you, reach out and invite them for a coffee on you, explaining why you specifically want to meet them. The worst that can happen is they ignore you or politely decline.

But if they accept, you can conduct an informational interview during your meeting to gain insights into their career and the challenges they’ve faced in navigating the academic landscape. This conversation can lead to future opportunities and valuable advice. At the very least, you’ll enjoy a pleasant coffee and an interesting discussion.

4. Sharpen your online presence

LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), and other social platforms are some of the easiest ways to expand your professional network. These platforms help you connect with new people outside your immediate circles. To maximise this opportunity, ensure your online profiles are fully completed with a well-written, relevant, and specific bio, along with a professional (but friendly) photo.

Once your profile is complete, start sharing content to increase your visibility. Content doesn’t have to be complex, you could:

• Write a short post about your recently published paper, tagging the publisher and thanking contributors. Include a link to the paper.
• Share an opinion piece on your latest research making it accessible to a wider audience.
• Share content you found helpful and tag others who might benefit.
• Comment positively on others’ posts, share useful resources, or congratulate them on their achievements.
• Make a research summary for free on Acume and we’ll make a post to promote you which you can share (sometimes easier coming from a third party).

5. Participate in academic online communities

Platforms like Academia.edu and ResearchGate connect you with other researchers and make it easy to share and discuss your papers with other academics. There are fewer communities that help you connect with a wider audience of academics and non-academics. One notable option is The Conversation, which lets you write articles on topical subjects, though you need to make a compelling pitch and deliver it promptly.

Another valuable option is Acume, which we believe to be the most accessible. Our goal is to make networking effortless for academics, enabling them to connect with other scholars and professionals who can utilise their work. We believe this approach is essential for achieving global impact. Acume allows academics to share their expertise on the platform for free, matching them with interested parties. This method actively facilitates professional relationships that lead to tangible career outcomes.

Summary

Focus on these actionable steps to expand your academic network: join associations, attend conferences, build an online presence, invite people for coffee, and join online communities. Each of these strategies will help you make valuable connections that can support your academic journey.