networking
networking
(OP)
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.
thanks.





RE: networking
E.g. Electrical & Computer - IEEE
Aero - AIAA
Auto - SAE (?)
Noise - ASA, INCE
etc etc.
RE: networking
RE: networking
Once you have been working for a while and people come and go, you will build up a list of contacts.
RE: networking
RE: networking
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
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RE: networking
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It may be like this in theory and practice, but in real life it is completely different.
The favourite sentence of my army sergeant
RE: networking
Hg
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RE: networking
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
RE: networking
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!
RE: networking
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