How can you build a professional network in data management as a recent graduate?

1 Identify your goals and interests

Before you start networking, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and what you are passionate about. Data management is a vast domain that can be applied to many industries and domains, such as healthcare, finance, education, marketing, and more. You also need to consider what kind of roles and projects you are interested in, such as data analyst, data engineer, data scientist, data architect, data steward, and more. Having a specific focus and direction will help you narrow down your search and target the right people and opportunities.

3 Attend events and meetups

Networking in data management can be achieved by attending events and meetups, where you can meet other data professionals, exchange ideas, and build relationships. Attending events and meetups offer multiple benefits, such as learning from speakers and panelists on topics and trends in data management, showcasing your skills and projects through presentations or hackathons, expanding your network by exchanging contact information with other attendees, and discovering new opportunities by meeting potential employers, mentors, collaborators, or clients. Types of events and meetups to look for include conferences - large-scale events that usually last for a few days with multiple sessions, speakers, and exhibitors - webinars - online events that usually last for an hour or two featuring one or more speakers on a specific topic - and meetups - local events that usually last for a few hours with a casual atmosphere. Popular conferences for data management are Strata Data and AI, DataWorks Summit, Data + AI Summit; while webinars can be found on Eventbrite, BrightTALK, DataCamp; meetups can be found on Meetup, Eventbrite, or Facebook.

4 Build your personal brand

Networking is not only about meeting new people, but also about making a positive and lasting impression. To do that, you need to build your personal brand, which is the way you present yourself, your skills, your values, and your goals to others. Some of the ways to build your personal brand include creating a portfolio on platforms like GitHub or Tableau, updating your resume to highlight relevant and recent projects, certifications, courses, and awards, writing a bio for various platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter, and sharing your insights on blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or social media. This will help you showcase your knowledge and opinions on various topics and trends in data management.

5 Follow up and maintain relationships

Networking is not a one-time activity, but a continuous process that requires follow-up and maintenance. To make the most of your network, you need to stay in touch with the people you meet and build trust and rapport. Sending thank-you notes after conversations, connecting on social media platforms, offering value, and reaching out regularly are all excellent ways to follow up and maintain relationships. These tips can help you grow your career and learn from others in data management. If done right, networking can create a professional network that can support you, inspire you, and open up new opportunities for you.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?