networking 6

[calguy07]

i've been in the field for about 7-8 months now. its my first engineering job after graduation. its no secret that networking is the key to progession in one's career but for me its not that easy. how does you grow your network? i've already joined the professional engineering organizations in my province (alberta) but there doesn't seem to be many networking events or anything like that. how do you get noticed? how do you get to know the key people in your field. i know i'm less than a yr into my career but i've got to start somehwere.

thanks.

 

[SylvestreW]

Your P.Eng association is a good first step but as you noticed, they aren't always pro-active in organizing events. I've found that the industry-specific associations are better aimed for real networking.
E.g. Electrical & Computer - IEEE
Aero - AIAA
Auto - SAE (?)
Noise - ASA, INCE

etc etc.

 

[tripleZ]

Professional societies work. So does your local BBB (assuming they have those in Canada). I've met a good number of business people through BBB-sponsored happy hours, charity events, and golf outings. While most are not in my field, I invariably meet people who know people who are in my field. And that's what networking is all about. Make a good impression and you'll have an easy time getting a friendly reference.

 

[csd72]

Always try and get along with everyone you work with (particularly the temporary contractors).

Once you have been working for a while and people come and go, you will build up a list of contacts.

 

[NCDesign]

tripleZ has a very good point. The various engineering societies are important to be a part of and active in, but don't limit yourself. Any business oriented association; Jayce's , Toastmaster, BBB, Local Chamber of Commerce, Optimists, Rotary, etc. All of these are great places to network. You may make contacts that might be future work for you or your employer. You might make a contact that all of a sudden needs an engineer on staff and remembers you from last months get together. You might just make a couple of good friends, you never know. One weakness I see in engineering is we pick-up on the need to network but then pigeon hole ourselves into networking only with other engineers. It can be tough, especially as you are first starting out, but try and branch out, it will pay later in life.

 

[Ashereng]

calguy07,

I am an old fart, so I like to keep things simple - less to forget. If this sounds a bit old-school, it's because it is.

Building a network is no different than building your circle of friends and acquaintences.

You work with someone, you get to know them, you become colleagues, you help each other, and they introduce you to one of their friends, you do the same, and on it goes.

If you can make friends, you can build a network. The rules are pretty much the same, along with the responsibilities, etiquette, and so on. Sometimes, your friends can help you. Other times, you can help your friends. Same as in a network.

Also, I would not worry too much about ISA, BBB, ASME and all that. Societies are good, but for a recent grad, I wouldn't worry too much about them.

What I would concentrate on are your graduating classmates and current friends. These are the people that will become your peers. You already know them - and remember, meeting good people is the hardest part. Now, you just have to stay in touch with them - this is the easy part that most people forget to do. Call them up for lunch every couple of months - to eat, drink, tell stories, catch up and generally stay in touch.

You do this for 25 years, and pretty soon, you will know a few presidents of major companies, a couple of owners of medium sized companies, a whole lot of department and discipline managers and leads, and even an owner of Tim Hortons (hey, coffee is expensive), a car dealership (useful unless it's a Ford dealership), and some lawyers (never have too many of those). Oh, you never know, you may be one of these too! And you will have the kids of your network pals beating on your door for a job.

Keep it simple. Be honest. Give as good as you take. Pretty much what they taught you in kindergarten on how to make friends.

Sorry for the rambling on of an old-timer.

"Do not worry about your problems with mathematics, I assure you mine are far greater."
Albert Einstein
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[lz5pl]

Great post, Ashereng ! It happens exactly this way with me (24 years after graduation).

------------------------
It may be like this in theory and practice, but in real life it is completely different.
The favourite sentence of my army sergeant

 

[HgTX]

Go to conferences. Join technical committees.

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[prohammy]

An oft ignored part of the whole 'networking' scenario are your present company suppliers and customers. A well choosen conversation with either of these two sources can be invaluable.

Suppliers can be a very good way of gauging who's doing what in a particular industry and are a good way of looking beyond your own company/industry



Kevin

“Insanity in individuals is something rare, but in groups, parties, nations and epochs it is the rule” Nietzsche

 

[caluna]

Don't forget to keep in touch with your high school/college/university pals, too. And that includes your lecturers, tutors and professors. Even if they are in different fields altogether you would be surprised how useful a network they may become.
Another good thing to do is get out to evening classes or job-related courses, technical or professional meetings, volunteer work, etc. When you are there, look for others in your line of work, or in related fields...for example, if you are a building engineer, as I am, architects, economic development types and contractors are useful to meet.
Assume that everyone you meet in any situation-grocery store, dinner party, barbershop is worth meeting for their own value as well as a potential network contact!

 

[zdas04]

Someone asked me once to explain what MuleShoe Engineering does. My answer was "I know people who need stuff, and I know people that have stuff, I put them together and facilitate them accomplishing their goals". His answer was "kind of like a pimp?". Pretty crass, but not far from what networking is all about.

Ashereng has it right, you don't go from a newbie to having a broad network of contacts overnight or even in a few steps. It takes a career. At 7 months I was still trying to find the restroom successfully three times in a row. The only thing I had to offer my emerging contact list was "I don't know, but I'll find out" on a broad range of subjects.

At about 5 years you should get active in an industry organization (SPE is it for Oil & Gas plus the list that SylvesterW put up for other industries). Take a junior position in the local chapter and start seriously searching for a topic to present at a technical conference. The first couple of abstracts may get rejected, but perseverance will result in success.

Eventually you'll look at your Contact List (or Rolodex) and think, "dang I know a lot of people" and at that point you will be networked.

David