ACS COMMENT
Networking For Life LISA M. BALBES, CHAIR, COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC & PROFESSIONAL AFFAIRS
THIS IS THE SECOND Comment in
Compounding this disparity is the a series started by American Chemical fact that the importance of networking Society President Nancy B. Jackson last increases tremendously during tougher week, promoting the idea that each of us economic times. From the employer’s can help unemployed and underemployed perspective, the greater availability of job ACS members find jobs and advance their seekers creates a buyer’s market. Employcareers (C&EN, Aug. 8, page 52). As chair of ers don’t have to work as hard to find qualithe ACS Council Committee on Economic fied candidates for positions, and so they & Professional Affairs and one of the more often rely on word of mouth and limited than 163,000 members of the society, I Web postings to communicate availability. have always tried to “pay it forward”—as Networking is crucial to uncover these Nancy urged—and help my fellow memhidden jobs. bers as others have helped me. ACS is a ready-made global network of For almost 20 years, I have volunteered more than 163,000 chemical professionwith ACS, helping fellow chemical profesals who are trained to dig through data sionals with their career development. and ferret out facts. We all know someone Recent economic hardships and changing who is unemployed, and we probably have global trends have displaced many of my some information or a connection that friends and colleagues from the chemical, could help them in their job search. Below pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. are a few simple ways that you can pay it However, the group forward and help with the highest your colleagues. UNEMPLOYMENT RATES unemployment Most younger Jobless rate for new chemistry grads rate in the chemical chemists these among ACS members has risen steadily. enterprise is our days know that new graduates. they need to netUnemployment rate, % The 2009 ACS work, but they’re 12 ◼ New graduates Starting Salary not sure how to do 10 ◼ All members Survey showed an it. Contacting a fel8 unemployment low professional to 6 rate of 11.4% across explore career op4 all degree levels tions, inquire about 2 for new chemistry growing or chang0 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 graduates; that ing companies, number excludes identify in-demand NOTE: New chemistry grads at all degree levels. SOURCES: ACS annual starting salary and comprethe 3.1% not lookskills and knowlhensive employment surveys, 2000–09 ing for work. In edge, and learn comparison, the about job openings unemployment rate in 2009 was 3.9% for is a daunting challenge for anyone, but esACS members as a group and 9.3% for the pecially for recent graduates. general U.S. population. If you’re a midcareer professional, you Although a direct comparison of new can help your younger colleagues by giving graduates and experienced chemists is them honest feedback on their job search unfair, the difference in their ability to gain strategies and résumé and curriculum vitae employment is real. One of the biggest facportfolios. Show new graduates the basics tors is the difference in their ability to netof networking, and remind them that they work. The average ACS member is 47 years probably have a more extensive network old, has been in the workplace for more than they think. Encourage them to conthan 20 years, and has many more profestact former graduates from their research sional connections than a new graduate. group, other alumni, and professors and Seasoned professionals have had more other professionals whom they have met time to practice their networking skills— along the way. ACS local, regional, and not that they all do. national meetings are great places to netWWW.CEN-ONLINE.ORG
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work, but many new graduates are hesitant to approach more-senior colleagues. Serve as an ambassador to the younger generation by simply saying hello to a group of younger chemists huddled in a corner by themselves, and introduce yourself to expand their network as well as your own. MORE-SENIOR CHEMICAL professionals
often have extensive professional networks and know how to tap into them. If you do, use your connections to introduce unemployed members to key individuals, including hiring managers. Volunteer to host networking events in your local section and share tips and success stories from your own career. Younger professionals, who may not have any contacts in a particular field, would benefit tremendously from an introduction or recommendation from a more-senior colleague. At the very least, join us in the ACS Network at www.acs.org/payingitforward. Fill out the information in your profile (employer, publications, research interests), to make yourself more findable and more valuable. Join us for an unprecedented ACS Global Networking Reception on Aug. 30 at 4 PM MDT (6 PM EDT). The main reception will be in Denver at the ACS national meeting, but many local sections, student chapters, and international chapters will be hosting satellite events, and you can attend virtually by registering for the ACS Virtual Career Fair at www.acs.org/careerfair. No matter what your career stage, you can help yourself and others by nurturing your own professional network. Join the ACS Network, connect to others, and participate in discussions. Organize local section meetings, and encourage your colleagues to attend. Organize a technical session for your division at a regional or national meeting. Be aware of what’s going on around you. Seek out opportunities to get involved and to pass useful information and resources on to professional colleagues. Pay it forward as much as you can, and you will be prepared when you need to tap into your network yourself. Views expressed on this page are those of the author and not necessarily those of ACS.
