Using time and energy purposefully
Networking and networks are essential to academic careers. This includes both actively building and maintaining contacts and staying engaged in existing (e.g., professional) networks. How do I get started? How much and what kind of networking makes sense while pursuing a doctorate? “You can really network to death,” said Ingrid Gogolin at the outset of her keynote speech. The Universität Hamburg professor researches the social impact of networking. As an academic supervisor who also oversees staff, she also specifically encourages her charges to strategically develop their own networks from the beginning of their academic careers. Instead of investing just a small amount of time and energy into too many networks at the same time, she recommends focusing on just a few. To judiciously choose networks, it helps to ask the following: Will it lead to joint projects or publications? Will it help pave the way for my next career steps? How much time and energy am I able and willing to devote right now?