Networking Skills (with Mitacs Training)

This session is being offered in collaboration with Mitacs Training. Mitacs Training provides professional development training to advanced degree graduates, supplementing their education and research experience with the tools necessary to succeed in today’s workforce.

You’ve all heard the saying “you are only as good as your network,” but have you ever wondered how to get one?

This course is designed to provide insight and interaction along with the know how to build and stabilize business relationships through effective networking.

We will cover who-what-where-when and why to network and participants will have the opportunity to practice what they learn. Details on the actual networking exercises will be determined by the location of each event. Activities will be customized to reflect the interests of the participants.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Through participating and completing this course, participants will:
• Broaden their understanding of the importance of networking
• Learn the importance of sharing contacts
• Receive insights on how to refresh, build and make the most of the networks they already have, both virtually and in-person
• Acquire the tools required to make an impact on contacts that may open doors
• Learn tools and techniques to plan and better prepare for networking opportunities

KEY TOPIC AREAS

The Importance of Networking

• The value of a network
• Strength of weak ties
• Introducing others
• Social Media Profiles and Networking

Assessing and Building a Network

• Mapping and identifying existing networks
• Identifying networking opportunities in life and work
• Business cards: why everyone should have them and how to use them
• Networking planning and preparation
• Transactional vs. engaged networking
• Mingling and making impactful connections: The art of conversation
• Answering the questions “So what do you do?”
• Follow through and follow up

FACILITATORS

Judy Thomson is a CPA, CA, business consultant and speaker who has held executive positions in human resources and administration with global companies in Canada and Asia. She was also part of the start-up management team of the world-famous Rocky Mountaineer Railtours. In addition to her role as chief operating officer of Shepa Learning Company, Judy is an Honored Alumni of The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade’s Women’s Leadership Circle® advisory council (after serving as vice-chair for six years) and has over ten years of corporate director experience in the public and not-for-profit sectors

Gayle Hallgren-Rezac is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur (founder, Cookies by George) and a YWCA Woman of Distinction. She has spent over two decades observing and writing on networking around the world. She is a member of the Davos Circle, having attended the Annual World Economic Forum over eleven times. She is also an expert on the “art of conversation”, a subject she writes and speaks on frequently. Gayle is chief engagement officer of Shepa Learning Company, their training and development company.

REGISTRATION

Registration in this session is required, and is now open. There are limited seats available in this session, and those successfully registered will receive an email within one week of the session date.

Graduate students, please register through Graduate Pathways to Success.

NO-SHOW PENALTY: If you register and do not attend or cancel after 3pm on the day before the event, it may affect your eligibility to join future events. To avoid this no-show penalty, please cancel by at least 3pm the day before the event by e-mailing postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca.

PDFO EVENT COMMUNITY AGREEMENT

The PDFO has created a community agreement for our events in order to foster an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment in which all event attendees feel safe and supported.

By participating in a PDFO event, we commit ourselves to:

• Treating one another with kindness, courtesy and respect in all interactions;
• Engaging in gracious, active listening and valuing others’ opinions;
• Not dominating discussions so that others can share during the session;
• Ensuring that any potentially confidential or sensitive information shared as part of the session is not shared outside of the session;
• Actively participating in the session; and
• In online sessions, when possible and if comfortable sharing audio and/or video to create a greater sense of community and participation.

Accessibility

If you have a disability or medical condition that may affect your full participation in the event, please email postdoctoral.fellows@ubc.ca in advance of the event.

DELIVERY FORMAT

Due to the ongoing situation surrounding COVID-19, this session will be delivered online via Zoom. The following suggestions may help to improve the online experience:

• Use headphones to reduce noise and avoid feedback between your mic and speaker.
• Ensure that you are in a quiet location so that the audio does not get polluted with unwanted noise.
• Keep your microphone on mute unless you are speaking during the session.
• In case of technical problems, time for plugin downloads, etc., please attempt to log into the Zoom meeting 10-15 minutes before the start. You will be placed in the waiting room until the official start time.