Talking over Coffee
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Thinking a lot about networking these days. Ph.D. programs are solitary pursuits, lonelier I like to think than any other point in my career. A friend who’s looking for a job has been talking about her approach to networking as she does it, and it’s made me think about networking in my Ph.D. program. Not to get a job, or get anything in particular out of people just now. Just to build relationships based on mutual interests in the fields of education, immigration, and sociology. So I’ve started trying to have lunch, coffee, email contact with people on a more regular basis. Following up when I’ve read what someone sends me, letting them know my ideas or questions about it. Reaching out for ideas and help, but more importantly simply conversation and sharing about the topics we have in common. In the last week it’s helped a lot with feeling less alone in my pursuits.