Work on yourself first
Think of your favorite dish, the one that makes your mouth water instantly. You surely imagined it in a neat plate, with garnishes, and a scrumptious side dish to enjoy with it. So, before you eat you see, you smell, and the feel-good hormones begin to flow. The dish sold itself to you before you ate. Similarly, when you look professional, confident, and sharp, you market the best version of yourself.Presentation of self
When you go for an interview with the head of a lab, present a paper at a conference, or take part in the discussion, make sure you dressBe confident
Some people are born with it, while others accumulate it with practice. Stay confident even if on inside you feel like a train on fire. Take deep breaths, science tells us our breathing controls our mood. Speak clearly, choose a person who seems most comfortable to you, and try to focus your attention on them. Don’t think too much, keep that brain clear for important thoughts. Practice talking in front of the mirror, family members, friends, or lab mates. While giving a presentation, structure the presentation so that it helps you maintain a chain of thought. Follow the 6*6 rule for a slide, 6 points with no more than 6 words.Craft a good CV
Network, network & network some more
Human beings are social animals, and we are not meant to operate in isolation. So why do you need to remain in obscurity and isolation? Network with people. Networking not only brings you loads of new knowledge but also gives you a chance to expand your connections. Even if you think a person might not be interested or isn’t important, do not stop there. Reach out, say hello, talk about their work, and who knows what opportunity may come across.E-networking in new normal
In the pre-pandemic times, the coffee or lunch breaks in conferences were the best times to talk to the speaker. But in the current new normal, webinars and digital conferences are the way. Don’t worry. Take note of the speakers, visit their social media handles, follow them. You can send a polite message to the speaker after the talk, request them for an email-ID, or arrange a video call. You can also take note of the attendees, and if it is an open platform listen in keenly to different people. You can always connect with them in chat windows often available on online meeting platforms. You can even reach out to the organizer and ask them for the material you think could help you. Organizers can also lead you to some great people to connect with. You can even ask the organizer if you can be part of their team for an event that might be organized in the future.Share views & connect with like minds
There are many ways you can share your views and connect with like-minded people. You can share your views on the area of study you focus on, insightful information, comment, and engage in conversation with people who do so.
You can learn from other accounts who share similar interests, or fields as you. See below an example of one vibrant science communicator, Siddharth Kankaria. The account description tells you everything there is to know about them.
He also manages SciCommSci club that gives a chance to connect with many other like-minded people. The curated and insightful information posted allows the chance for dialog. Also, he is responsive to the replies he receives, which is a positive sign and encourages people to visit the account.
And you can find other such interesting people from the list of people you already follow.
Build your network via a bottom-up approach
As you start out you are still trying to establish your persona and voice. Following the popular accounts can help you learn more, but they might not have the time or get the chance to follow you back. So, you can follow a bottom-up approach to build your network. Connect with other scientists who you know or work in your area, people with comparatively fewer followers but active voice have a higher probability to respond and connect with you. This way you can get opinions on your views, learn and engage, and remain social while building an audience of your own.Collaborate on things or activities
Don’t shy away from collaborations. Collaborate on even the smallest of projects, like interviewing scientists, forming a small reading group that updates each other about the latest scientific news, writing group, or others. If you have a concrete idea, then you can form a group like scicommsci and connect and collaborate with like-minded people. As you actually work with people and collaborate with them it helps you forge closer bonds that can actually prove fruitful. You can use the Slack app to create a channel or you can join slack channels formed by others. These are great places to find people and connect with them over chat.Get on social media
Getting on social media remains especially important in today’s pandemic era. If it was not for global connectivity through the internet and social media we would have been forced into an abyss. Thus, getting on social media should be the most important step in marketing yourself. ( Read our article with tips to make use of social media)- What brought you where you are today?
- How well-positioned are you?
- What do you bring to the table?
- And some information about yourself that humanizes the description. For eg: You may mention what you love, or add a fun ending or a quote.