How networking helped me land my first six-figure job.

And no, it is not about being fake friends with people.

Let me tell you a quick story.

While I was a post-doctoral researcher at UC San Diego, the postdoctoral association hosted a career event I attended.

There were several panels. I attended the ones on becoming a teaching professor, and the panel on writing.

I was particularly intrigued by the panel on writing because, until that day, even though I had been freelance writing on the side, I had no idea PhD-trained scientists could write for a full-time living!

• One of the writers on the panel was an engineering PhD-turned-novelist.
• Another was a freelance medical writer.
• One owned her own PR agency.
• And the last wrote for a large healthcare system.

After the event, I spoke to three of the panelists. I connected with all three on LinkedIn and, by following up, one of them invited me to her office to ask her questions about her career path.

We spoke for about an hour about her work and the information she gave me was pure gold. It helped to set me on the path I’m on now.

From one event I took the initiative to speak to panelists and follow up on those conversations.

You don’t need to be fake friends with people. And you can start networking anywhere.

The key is to show a genuine interest in what they are doing and have a conversation.

You get to know them. They get to know you. And you learn where there are places where you can help each other, if possible. That’s it.

Networking doesn’t have to be complicated.

And it could be the key you need to change careers successfully.