Facilitating Networking in Accelerated Programs

How do you trick networking skeptics into doing it anyways? This spring, I’ve been facilitating networking events for groups typically a bit allergic to networking: academic research teams. I’m a “people person”. I love chit-chat or more involved conversations. I’m always up for meeting new people. And I absolutely want to see a photo of your pet, your person, or the painting you just made. But I still struggle with networking and figuring out exactly what to say or coming up with a good question to ask. Many of the academic researchers I work with are wary of networking. Either it feels forced and smarmy to them. Or stirs up memories of “that guy” in grad school who had business cards printed before he had a job offer. Or it’s just awkward and a bit draining. And yet, research collaborations require meeting people working in other domains, discussion projects, and finding points of convergence. So how do you work around this resistance and get people talking in ways that feel good, and maybe even fun? I re-branded. Instead of “networking session”, I’ve been inviting research teams to “Collaborative Connection” sessions. Here’s how you do it: 1) Prep interview cards in advance with three questions that make sense for the group. 2) Invite participants to find a partner who they haven’t yet spoken to today – better yet, someone they don’t yet know. 3) For five minutes each, partners interview one another using the prepared questions. 4) After ten minutes, two sets of partners combine to create a group of four. Each person introduces their original partner to the group. 5) Start again with a new partner – ideally, everyone will meet six new people in a one-hour session 6) Plenary: Ask for 3-5 people to share a story they heard, based on the theme of the questions. For my sessions, I ask for a story about collaboration. Bonus points: Have little prizes ready and challenge people to introduce a new friend to you. And always have a great noisemaker to signal when it’s time to move from one stage to the next. Shout out to the smart folks who have taught me about networking and facilitating introvert-friendly sessions: ✨ Julie Brown - A true networking star ✨ Jan Keck, Mimp J., Manal Sayid, MBA, Brittni Bowering, and so many more facilitation geniuses I learn from every week ✨ Jennifer Polk, PhD, Judith Mintz, PhD (she/her), Eric James Stephens, PhD, Angela Priest, David Giltner, Ashley Ruba, PhD, Kaitlin Johnson, Gertrude Nonterah, Ph.D., and all of the other smart, cool people who weighed in on my post about networking in academia a few months ago. I'm going to make that comic eventually! If you try one of these sessions, let me know! --- ✍ ✨ Are you looking for ways to bring a little more joy and connection to your team? Let's chat about workshops and facilitated sessions. 💌

Love networking but hate small talk? Question mining is your shortcut to real connection 👀 At our recent Routes In mentorship event, we used this simple technique to transform awkward networking moments into fantastic conversations. Here's how it works: 🔍 Before networking begins, gather everyone and ask "What questions are alive in this room? What are you curious about?" 📝 Capture them all on a shared slide – from practical industry questions to playful imaginative queries 📌 Display this throughout the networking session to be used as conversation starters When someone isn't sure what to talk about next they simply glance at the question bank for inspiration! What I love about this approach is how it democratises networking. Instead of leaving people to sink or swim with small talk, it provides a shared resource that everyone has contributed to. At our event, the questions ranged from practical ("Tips for accessing funding?") to delightfully random ("If you were a museum, what would be in your gift shop?") – creating pathways for both professional and informal connection. Next time you're planning a networking event, try question mining ✨ It takes the edge off that awkward forced vibe and turns it into a proper conversation. 👉 Want more facilitation techniques? Check out our "2025 Facilitative Leadership Resources Wrapped" – a collection of our most powerful tools for transforming how teams collaborate and connect! [Link in the comments] #NetworkingTips #FacilitationTechniques #MeaningfulConnections #RoutesIn #CommunityBuilding

Thank you to the Vanderbilt University Career Center for inviting me to serve as a panelist for The Black Vanderbilt University (BVU) Career Accelerator Program. Myself along with my fantastic Commodore Colleagues including, Alayna Hayes, Ed.D, Assistant Provost and Senior Director of the Career Center and Sheryl Bonner, Talent Acquisition Consultant, offered insight about networking and informational interviews. A few networking nuggets: -Consider reciprocity. It’s not all about what you can get, it’s also about what you can give. -You’re often playing the long game. The connection may not yield results in the short-term but may do so in the long-term. -See networking as building relationships. -Follow-up with those you meet along the way. Check in on their projects and share information about your professional journey. -Choose a way to get organized so that you can keep track of who you meet. -Practice your elevator speech. If you have a specific interest in a company or connecting with a certain person, be able to articulate your why. Do your research so that you can be specific. -You never know where your next role will come from. Networking is happening around you all the time. One of my colleagues chatted about meeting a woman in Walgreens who offered her a role that led to her current profession. -Continue to network internally and externally once you have an internship or a full-time role. -Use LinkedIn to network intentionally by joining groups, following/connecting with people who are on your chosen path, comment on their posts, share their posts, be a part of the conversation. Remember to use LI as your portfolio and invite people into conversation with you. -Right now you’re networking everyday with classmates who will go on to have careers, own companies, will oversee hiring others, and can make introductions to people you need to know. It’s one of the greatest benefits of college. Stay connected. -Networking is a snowball. Once you meet someone, you can inquire about recommendations for others you should meet. Continue doing that and like a snowball, your network will grow as you pick up connections along the way. Informational Interviews Tips: -Ask about shadowing opportunities. -Inquire about what a typical day is like for someone in your desired role. -In order to learn more and create ease in follow up, ask the interviewee about additional resources including podcasts, books, articles, documentaries that will give your more insight into the profession. When you follow-up, you can use these as a foundation for your outreach. “Oh, I read the book you suggested and [insert thoughts here]…” or “Did you listen to the latest episode of…”? It lets them know that you’re interested and that you’re learning. What nuggets and tips would you add to this list for college students?