Networking is a key part of building a successful career in any field. Our industry is no different. There are plenty of ways to begin to build a network.
- Join industry associations/organizations.
The most obvious recommendation: join a professional organization. Places like QRCA, Insights Association, etc., are full of people looking to build genuine connections with others. - Attend industry conferences/events/meetings.
Across the industry there are professional events that make great opportunities to get to know others. Whether it’s a more local event or a big one, like an Annual Conference, all of these events offer an opportunity to meet new people and build connections. If you enroll in one of the associations, attending chapter meetings will help you engage with people in your own city/state/area to help build those key connections. (Note: you can participate in QRCA events as a non-member, it just costs more 😊.) - Look for ways to get involved in those programs.
For a more meaningful experience, it’s better not to just attend events, but to also engage and participate in those programs. Look for opportunities to volunteer to help host, support, speak, engage in our community. - Take a RIVA class!
While it sounds pretty self-promo-y, it’s also a great way to get to know people who are in similar stages of their career. It’s an environment where students spend time getting to know their classmates, the RIVETTEs, and begin their career. This also is a little less pressure than attending a larger conference as our class sizes are smaller, meaning those who are a little less social butterflies (myself included) can network in a more comfortable environment. - Follow key figures in our industry on social media.
While I personally don’t encourage connecting to people you don’t know without introducing yourself or some type of prior connection on LinkedIn, it is a good place to follow people who have been or are paramount in our industry. Many of these faces share insights on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis that can help anyone in the field. - Look for connections on LinkedIn.
Need an introduction? Ask us to connect you! Or just reach out with a message to let other researchers know why you’re reaching out/wanting to connect.
Quallies tend to love meeting new people and helping their fellow researchers out! If you want to meet someone, just ask.
Written by: Brittany Mohammed, Qualitative Training & Research Specialist