Networking

News flash! I’m an introvert. Yup, it’s true! I have spent the bulk of my career (and life) successfully playing an extrovert.

This may explain my interest in discussions about networking, as it isn’t a natural skill for everyone, especially in this virtual world.

In a workshop with graduate students in IPhO at The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy last week, we covered key points:

• Research the person you will be speaking with ahead of time.

• Maintain professionalism by choosing your setting and attire carefully.

• Be prepared to introduce yourself clearly and quickly (about a minute).

• Develop personalized questions tailored to what you want to learn from the individual.

I was genuinely impressed by the insightful questions students raised during breakout sessions as they honed their skills. Their inquiries were informed, specific, and showed true curiosity.

Watching these students—from their first to third year—grow in their grasp of the industry and using networking to expand their knowledge is truly inspiring.