After I completed my master’s, I was kind of lost about what path I should take next – academia or industry. I decided to work in a research lab and upskill myself until I figured things out. For a month I was on this job application spree, in Bangalore. My parents wanted me to take a break and come home, but I was dead set on staying in Bangalore until I secured a job.

After a bunch of interviews, I landed a job as a project assistant in a super challenging lab at a research institute in Bangalore. That interview probably was the craziest one I’ve ever given. The paycheck was 15k per month, which was just enough to get by in Bangalore. Around the same time, my dad, who was working at Manipal University, tried to hook me up with a job in his department. It was in my field, I was a good fit, and they were willing to pay me more than double of what I was getting in Bangalore. But, without any confusion I stuck with the first job. For me, it was about earning the job on my own. The second option felt like I’d be getting it through my dad’s connections, and that just didn’t sit right with me.

This mindset had always been around me. Getting a job through a friend or family contact was perceived as if the person lacked true skills and got the job just because of someone’s help. I believed that applying, cracking an interview and landing a job solely based on your merit without any family or friend connections was a real testament to your talent. On top of that, my whole academic journey was filled with the mantra that your work should speak for itself.

Now, fast forward to 2022, I’m in Canada, trying to find a job outside of academia for the first time. Suddenly, all I’m hearing is “networking is the key,” and “it is great if you already have some contacts in the company who can refer you to the hiring manager”. Talk about a culture shock!!! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love meeting new people and chatting about life and science. But the idea of networking with a hidden intent of seeking a job/referral was tough.

It took me a bit to wrap my head around this shift. I had to realize networking and asking for referrals is not about favoritism in selection nor is it being desperate; it’s just how things work. Networking is about reaching out to people you’d like to learn from in some way. The more you reach out, the more you get to learn. Even now, I can’t bring myself to connect with someone solely for job opportunities. Every time I reach out on LinkedIn, I look for people whose careers interest me or who I feel I can truly connect with. Authenticity is my style, but I’ve come to appreciate any job opportunities that arise from genuine connections.

That’s how I’ve navigated networking in my career journey. But let me tell you, the journey of “marketing yourself” is a whole other story, for another time!

So, how has your journey with networking evolved over the years?